March 2, 2023

“He told her, “Go, call your husband and come back.” “I have no husband,” she replied. Jesus said to her, “You are right when you say you have no husband.  The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true.” (John 4: 16-18)

Saturday Night Live had a skit in the early 90’s called “The Honest Planet”. The scene was a board room of a company called “Greedy Industries.” It’s after lunch; the chairman begins by saying he had 3 martinis at lunch and he has amorous feelings for his married co-worker. It gets worse from there! Just imagine if we lived on the Honest Planet.

Another word for repentance is honesty. Being as honest about yourself as you can (which is likely not completely honest) with others and with God. He is the God “to whom all desires are known and no secrets are hid,” after all.

The woman at the well discovered that dishonesty with Jesus is fruitless. But honesty, even and especially in the places of shame, is met with nothing but grace, which, of course, leads to freedom.

“O God, whose glory it is always to have mercy: Be gracious to all who have gone astray from your ways, and bring them again with penitent hearts and steadfast faith to embrace and hold fast the unchangeable truth of your Word, Jesus Christ your Son; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.” (Second Sunday in Lent – BCP)