Going viral
Fr. Joe Nassal, C.PP.S.
Vice Provincial Director
I am told by those who know that “going viral” means a video or a social media post spreads “rapidly and widely across the internet, gaining immense popularity and being shared by many in a short time.” I always thought the phrase “going viral” originated with the internet, but the story of Jesus’ encounter with the Samaritan woman at the well (John 4, 4-42) reminds us that “going viral” is an ancient art.
The woman who meets Jesus at the well and drinks deeply of his forgiving spirit races off to the village to tell others about her encounter with Jesus, and her story goes viral. People stream out of the village to see Jesus.
Pope Francis invited the world to do what Jesus did with the woman at the well. To enter conversation, to listen to one another’s stories, to look honestly at their past and present, to trust in God’s mercy, and to move on with their lives. It is a message of compassion and reconciliation, not judgment or condemnation.
So, this story of Jesus meeting the Samaritan woman at the well not only serves as a model for evangelization but also reflects a ministry of reconciliation that begins when we are willing to drink from the wells of our own — and others’ — experiences. To paraphrase Henri Nouwen, “Healing begins not when our pain is taken away, but where it can be shared and seen” in a larger frame.
In reaching out to the woman and asking for a drink of water, Jesus initiates a conversation with someone others had shunned. But like drawing water from the well of her experience, Jesus drew out from her the story of her life, her failed relationships, her struggles. Instead of condemning her, he brought her healing and hope by placing her story in the larger story of God’s mercy and forgiveness.
Jesus transcends obstacles caused by religion or reputation to find common ground around the well. He begins by being needy; he is thirsty and asks for a drink of water. It is the simplest of requests. The story captures our call to be ministers of reconciliation and missionary disciples of hope in our day. Jesus takes the initiative in breaking through the taboos to reach out to the woman. She offers him hospitality. They drink from each other’s experiences. The woman is filled with the life-giving water of redemption Jesus offers her. She becomes an ambassador of reconciliation and a missionary of hope by encouraging others with, “You must meet this guy!”
Reconciliation happens when we create safe spaces where people can talk, listen, and tell their stories. If our wells are feeling a little dry, perhaps we haven’t allowed each other to share their stories. Healing comes through listening and holding each one’s stories.
During this Easter season, may we create some sacred space to listen to another’s story. Whether it’s on the front porch or around the dinner table, may we encourage each other to drink from the well of our experiences as we share the stories of our lives. In our listening and our storytelling, we are ministers of healing and missionaries of hope for our world.
Maybe our stories won’t go viral, but we will enlarge the space of our own hearts to hold another’s story, and healing will happen.