Crossing over

THE STORY is told about a woman who returned a pair of eyeglasses that she had bought for her husband. When asked by the optometrist why, she replied: "Those eyeglasses are okay, but he's still not seeing things my way."

* * *

In today's Gospel about Jesus' encounter with the Samaritan woman (Jn. 4, 5-42), we see the value of dialogue and crossing over.

Initially, the Samaritan woman was proud and close-minded. What made the meeting of minds and hearts possible was the willingness of both parties to reach out and cross over barriers of culture, class and religion. If we cover and don't cross over, we may soon find ourselves isolated, cut off, and even at odds with one another.

Instead of building walls, we must be busy building bridges toward one another. Walls divide. Bridges connect. Are
you a wall builder or a bridge builder?

* * *

The reason we do not dialogue is the fear of "daya" and "lugi" (fear of being cheated and shortchanged). It is definitely easier to just expect and force people to see it our way. Why dialogue when you can monologue? Why listen when you can dictate? Why consult when you can just enforce? The answer to all these questions is that none of us can claim to have a monopoly of the truth.

The other reason why we do not dialogue is that we do not have the patience (as Jesus had) to let things unfold. Dialogue may be a slow and tedious journey, but it will bring us to the truth, and not just to half-truths that often are "my truth."

* * *

The proud run over people, while the humble cross over to people. Humility is the key. We must be open and ready to leave our familiar and comfortable shores and reach out into far and unfamiliar shores in our search for the truth. Jesus reminds us today that we must always be on the lookout for any possible broadening of horizons at any moment of our lives. When we stop questioning and no longer allow ourselves to be questioned by life itself, then we cease to be allies and disciples of the truth.

* * *

Someone once said that the business of preaching is to comfort the disturbed and to disturb the comfortable.

When we find ourselves comforting those who are comfortable and disturbing those who are already disturbed, that means that we have ceased to become prophets. When we no longer do our role of challenging people to go beyond their comfort zones, when we no longer offer a vision to give hope and deeper meaning, then we have failed in our role to help people cross over their miseries and fears.

And if we are not prophets, what are we but perpetuators of untruthfulness; partners and accomplices of injustices; agents of status quo; palliatives and worse, plain court jesters and entertainers. Prophets for profit.

* * *

When tempted to become closed and comfortable, be reminded of the lines of a song in the '70s. "Hey, have you ever tried, really reaching out to the other side." As long as we are alive, we must keep on trying. And we must never forget that there is the other side.

* * *

We all have our "crossing over moments" in life. Looking back, those were painful moments that might have involved sacrifice. But if we did not do them, things would have been pretty much the same. "No pain, no gain," "no guts, no glory" -- all these remind us that we have to move on, for life is a journey. At the end of our lives, may we not be burdened by a garbage can so full of "maybes," "what-ifs" and "could-have-beens."

* * *

By the way, people can get killed (literally, in the Philippines) while crossing over to the other side. There is the element of "dying to oneself" when we cross over with respect, understanding, compassion, love and dialogue. We must not let fear stifle us, or keep us apart.

* * *

There is a story about a little boy who told his grandfather: "Grandpa, I'm so inspired that up to now, you still call grandma 'honey' or 'sweetheart.'"

Upon hearing this, the grandfather whispered to the grandson: "Don't tell this to grandma, OK? You see, I've forgotten her name!" As we go on and grow, may we never forget our being pilgrims in this world, the constant call of the other side and the challenge to cross over. Let not the comforts of life blind us, or our attachments bind us. Don't forget:

Pilgrim is your name, heaven is your aim; love is your ticket, crossing over will help you make it.

During this Lenten season, may we all practice crossing over to people and dying to ourselves

* * *

Inviting you to join a Pilgrimage to Eastern Europe (Austria, Czech Republic, Poland and Bosnia) and Medjugorje from May 11 to 24. Please call +632 5238581 to 88 or +632 7217457. Join us in this crossing over experience. There's another pilgrimage to Naju Korea on May 29 to June 3. For particulars please call +632 9130388 or +632 7217457.

* * *

A moment with the Lord:
Lord, teach me to cross over to, and not to run over, people. Amen.