“He told me everything I have done.”
One of the main catalysts for the woman’s conversion was that Jesus had told her “everything she had done”. It was as if the well was a confessional; Jesus told the woman her sins and then she, in admitting and accusing herself of those sins, confessed to Him. She leaves the confessional of the well and goes into the town proclaiming that “he told me everything I have done.” She not only gives Jesus water, but gives Him her sins by acknowledging the sin, admitting the sin and changing her ways.
Can we give anything to God, which He has not already given us? Yes. Sin is the only thing which we can give to God which He has not already given us. We give this sin by laying it at the foot of the Cross. We connect it to the Cross and, thereby, we connect it to Christ. “For our sake he made him to be sin who did not know sin, so that we might become righteousness of God in him.” [1] Jesus took on our sin, so that sin, connected to Him, would be nailed to the Cross and destroyed. “Death is swallowed up in victory. Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” [2]
Activity – Jesus Falls Three Times
The group can do a short version of the Stations of the Cross, with a deeper meditation on the three falls of Christ and how in these three falls we can lay down, or hand over, our sins to Christ. If the group is in a hall or room, Jesus can carry the Cross through the crowd stopping before the crowd, in the middle of the crowd and at the edge of the crowd. A narrator can read the script and reflection below. At the end the Cross can be placed in the middle. A short time of silence or music can be played as the group, like the woman at the well, acknowledges and admits their sins by writing them on a card or paper. The sins can then be nailed to the Cross. Matt Maher’s “Lay it down” or another song can be played during this time.
The Third Station - Jesus Falls the First Time
V. We adore Thee, O Christ, and we bless Thee.
R. Because by Thy holy Cross, Thou hast redeemed the world.
Consider this first fall of Jesus under His Cross. His flesh was torn by the scourges, His head
crowned with thorns, and He had lost a great quantity of blood. He was so weakened that he
could scarcely walk, and yet he had to carry this great load upon His shoulders. The soldiers
struck Him rudely, and thus He fell several times in His journey.
My beloved Jesus, it is not the weight of the Cross, but my sins, which have made Thee suffer so
much pain. Ah, by the merits of this first fall, deliver me from the misfortune of falling into mortal
sin. I love Thee, O my Jesus, with my whole heart; I repent of having offended Thee. Never
permit me to separate myself from Thee again. Grant that I may love Thee always; and then do
with me what Thou wilt.
From the Rule of Saint Benedict -
When evil thoughts come into one’s heart, to dash them at once on the rock of Christ and to manifest them to one’s spiritual director / confessor.
Do I reject sinful thoughts, by running to Jesus and asking for His Grace?
Do I encourage sinful thoughts by what I watch, listen to, etc.?
Do I go to confession oftern and make a good, full confession? Do I examine my conscience daily?
The Seventh Station - Jesus Falls the Second Time
V. We adore Thee, O Christ, and we bless Thee.
R. Because by Thy holy Cross, Thou hast redeemed the world.
Consider the second fall of Jesus under the Cross - a fall which renews the pain of all the
wounds of the head and members of our afflicted Lord.
My most gentle Jesus, how many times Thou hast pardoned me, and how many times have I
fallen again, and begun again to offend Thee! Oh, by the merits of this new fall, give me the
necessary help to persevere in Thy grace until death. Grant that in all temptations which assail
me I may always commend myself to Thee. I love Thee, Jesus my love; I repent of having
offended Thee. Never permit me to offend Thee again. Grant that I may love Thee always; and
then do with me what Thou wilt.
From the Rule of Saint Benedict –
To obey in all things the commands of the abbot (authority) even though he himself should act otherwise.
Who are those in my life that hold positions of authority?
Do I obey those people?
Am I obedient to Christ and His Church?
Who are the people under my authority, those that I influence and lead?
Am I a good example a good leader? What am I leading them to (Christ, Virtue)?
The Ninth Station - Jesus Falls the Third Time
V. We adore Thee, O Christ, and we bless Thee.
R. Because by Thy holy Cross, Thou hast redeemed the world.
Consider the third fall of Jesus Christ. His weakness was extreme, and the cruelty of His
executioners was excessive, who tried to hasten His steps when He had scarcely strength to
move.
Ah, my outraged Jesus, by the merits of the weakness Thou didst suffer in going to Calvary, give
me strength sufficient to conquer all human respect, and all my wicked passions, which have led
me to despise Thy friendship. I love Thee, Jesus my love, with my whole heart; I repent of having
offended Thee. Never permit me to offend Thee again. Grant that I may love Thee always; and
then do with me what Thou wilt.
From the Rule of Saint Benedict –
Not to fulfill the desires of the flesh
Do I place my desire for pleasure and worldly goods above my pleasure for Christ and His Church
Am I willing to compromise my faith and love for Christ in order to fit in?
Do I take my friendship, relationship with Christ and His Church seriously?
Do I care more about what people think or about what God thinks?
[1] 2 Corinthians 5:21
[2] 1 Corinthians 15:55