When

I was in high school, some friends and I skipped school one day to go

to a Chicago Cubs game. I can’t say that was the worst thing I’ve

ever done in my life—in fact, given the opportunity, I’d do it

again. But we did all we could to hide our “playing hooky” from

our parents and school. We were sure we would be in trouble if we got

caught.

Our

reading today shows that Jesus had an incredible conversation with a

Samaritan woman. During that talk he revealed that she couldn’t

hide anything from him; he knew all about her. We might think the

conversation would have stopped right there. But Jesus didn’t

dismiss her, as many others would have, and she didn’t run away in

shame.

That’s

not even the most incredible part, though. When their conversation

was over, the woman went back to her town and told everyone to come

and meet Jesus. In fact, she used her own story to introduce everyone

to Jesus.

We

all have things in our lives that we aren’t proud of. But there is

nothing in our lives that Jesus can’t forgive, and there is nothing

in our lives that Jesus can’t use to build our faith in him.

What’s

more, there is nothing in our life story that Jesus can’t use to

introduce others to him. All he asks is that we be open to his grace

and tell other about his transforming work in our lives.