Jesus said to [the Samaritan woman], "Go, call your husband, and then come back here." "I have no husband," replied the woman. "You are right in saying you have no husband!" Jesus exclaimed. "The fact is, you have had five and the man you are living with now is not your husband. What you said is true." "Sir," answered the woman, "I can see you are a prophet."    

"Knowing" is a science fiction movie. But it begins with a set of circumstances that are quite real and common, the day-to-day living we are all used to, with its duties and pleasures, but especially as presented in the movie, with its tragedies and our reaction to them. John Koestler was a teacher of astrophysics at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He believed that the world and what happened in it was "determined" and no one could do anything about it. That world was not kind to him. He was trying to cope with his own particular set of problems: his beloved wife had died, and he was raising his young son Caleb as best he could, but he was having problems doing it well. As a result, he turned to alcohol and a despairing attitude toward life. His problems were overwhelming, and his solutions were not working. 

We know very little about the Samaritan woman of John's Gospel. We know that Jesus chose to talk with her, and then interact with her and her situation in life. We know that she was not living a very good life, but we do not know why. We also know that later on, she came to believe in this Jesus who had chosen to talk to her. The way the woman had lived--with six different men--suggests that she was looking for solutions, and that the choices she had made were not very well thought out. From the story of the Gospel, it seems that Jesus was able to help her understand that her early solutions did not contain the answers that she needed.

Unfortunately, there are many pains in our lives. Because of them, we often choose solutions that at the time seem like the way to act. Some of our choices are not wise--we may choose drugs or alcohol, to begin a marriage too early, to become sexually active without knowing any of the consequences. But the fact is that our early choices do have consequences. They shape our futures without our even knowing it because they begin a path that many times is very difficult to alter.

Therefore we must choose carefully and wisely. John Koestler at the beginning of the movie "Knowing" was not choosing as he should. The pain was too much for him, and it would literally take the end of the world to finally lead him to a better understanding of who he was and the wonderful life he had. The Samaritan woman in the Gospel had the advantage of having Jesus help her with solutions.

Christians will likewise look to Jesus for such help. They should understand that even if the world as we know it may end, or if there is immense pain in our daily living, no matter what the cause, the principles of Jesus will continue to offer the solutions that they need in order to survive.

Questions, comments? Let me know. Email Fr. Mike

©2007 Capuchin Province of Mid-America
Fr. Mike Scully is a member of the Capuchin Province of Mid-America