A: 3rd Sun of Lent (15 March 2020) - VIRTUAL BARRIERS (Jn 4:4-42)

The whole world is panicking nowadays as the World Health Organization declared Covid-19 as a pandemic. Scary indeed is our situation when this contagious virus has continued to penetrate into many countries, causing many nations to lock down their territories and to impede the mobility of their own constituents. Sadly, human freedom of movement is compromised in our society’s desire to fight the virus. But doing so is the wise thing to do since, as of now that no effective remedy has ever been discovered, quarantining remains one of the best available options in arresting somehow the outbreak’s rapid spread.

This placement of virtual barriers between peoples is not something new. In our gospel today, we notice that the same dynamics is at work in the concentrated efforts of the Jews to create virtual societal walls between them and the Samaritans. This systematic marginalization is very evident in the Gospel of John as no less than the evangelist himself testifies that the Jews and the Samaritans do not share things in common (4:9b). The divide is also evident in the subsequent conversation of Jesus and the Samaritan woman when both acknowledged that their form and idea of worship is different from each other (vv. 20-24). Moreover, Jesus was tagged as a Jew by the Samaritan woman herself (v. 9a), magnifying their ethnic differences and impossibility of commingling.

Yet, we read at the conclusion of the episode that Jesus managed to cross the gulf of separation between them by agreeing to stay for two days at their Samaritan village (vv. 40-42). This act is a huge cultural leap on the part of Jesus as he disregarded the potential consequences of his actions, namely, his further persecution from the Jewish authorities with whom he had serious altercations beginning with his display of anger in the temple of Jerusalem (cf. Jn. 2:13-22). True enough, later he got into more troubles with some Jews who even accused him of being a Samaritan and is possessed by the devil (Jn 8:48).

In reality, Jesus did not mind any misinterpretations of his actions. Deep in his heart, he was confident that what he did is for the welfare of the greater population as he is not only a savior of the Jews (cf. Jn 4:22) but is the savior of the world (v. 42). He removed all virtual barriers by conversing with the Samaritans (v. 7ff.), which miraculously brought about the removal of physical barriers between two opposing ethnic groups. With Jesus’ maverick deed, both Jews and Samaritans could now sit down and dine together as friends and brethren.

The opposite happens with the current coronavirus crisis. Inhabitants become so frustrated with this catastrophe that they begin blaming the Asians in general and the Chinese in particular, blurting unkind words and even doing untoward bullying gestures against them. Actions like these should never be tolerated and promoted as they create more divisive communities. Accordingly, more divisions and divided efforts in solving the global health problem only makes the matter worse. What we need are greater inter-ethnic cooperation, proactive conversations, and concerted efforts in fighting the virus. Otherwise, even if we medically defeat it, we will all be exposed to another virus that is even exponentially lethal than Covid-19, i.e., the virus of animosity. And we witnessed in history how animosity can eliminate a population, stage world wars, and even wipe out a whole generation.

As we continue our Easter journey, may we try our very best to be Christ-like in our approach to our day-to-day problems, particularly beginning by removing virtual barriers between us all.

- Rex Fortes, CM