This past week we celebrated International Women’s Day. This is also Women’s history month. These events create spaces for us to contemplate the gifts of women past, present, and future and the challenges they continue to face.
We all have women in our lives. What words would you use to describe the significant women in your life? (Create a space on the wall to celebrate women and post responses here.)
How many of these terms would apply to the Samaritan woman Jesus met at the well? (Connect the terms to the story of the Samaritan woman).
In fact, there are women throughout history who possess a multitude of gifts. Unfortunately, structures continue to exist which limit the extent to which women are able to share and be acknowledged for those gifts. This is why we continue to need moments like International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month. We need to intentionally create spaces to recognise all that women provide and offer so that the unjust structures which limit and undervalue the roles of women can be addressed.
Jesus has shown how this is possible in his interaction with the Samaritan woman at the well. Her identity as a Samaritan and a woman both provided reasons for Jesus NOT to interact with her. Yet, he did and did so with understanding, compassion, and respect. He wasn’t putting her down when he acknowledged her bad luck with men. He merely stated a fact without judgment, without condemnation. The respect he showed was truly profound and created spaces in which the woman felt safe, seen, and valued.
Feeling safe, seen, and valued, makes it easier for people to share their gifts. Clearly this woman was strong, passionate, and faithful. The hope inspired by Jesus needed to be shared and so she became a disciple, proclaiming the Good News to her community. That sharing became a catalyst for the transformation of the whole community.
Feeling safe, seen, and valued, makes sharing of gifts easier. What more can we do to ensure that all women feel safe, seen, and valued? How can we assure that women, in all their diversity, with all their experiences, can live fully who they are? In what ways do we celebrate the gifts of women and seek to transform the unjust structures which continue to impact the ability of women to share their gifts?
We know what it is like to feel safe, seen, and valued in this space. Let us pray that we continue to grow the spaces in which women and gender diverse individuals can feel safe, seen, and valued. This we pray as we sing: 656 She Comes Sailing on the Wind