(1) Anxiety about the Judgment of Others

Firstly, we see that the Samaritan woman felt anxiety about the judgment of others. She was worried about what people would say about her in light of the life she lived. In the gospel account of her encounter with Christ from John 4, we see in verse 7 how the Samaritan woman came to the well at the sixth hour. The Jewish day started at 6:00 a.m. and ended at 6:00 p.m. So, the first hour is 6:00 a.m., the third hour is 9:00 a.m. and the sixth hour is 12:00 p.m. This means that the Samaritan woman went to draw water from the well at the hottest time of the day, when the sun was directly overhead. She did this because she was afraid of the judgment of the people. She knew very well that she did not live a virtuous life and that others around her were aware of this. Because of this, she wanted to hide from everyone. She was anxious about their opinions and judgments.

She felt this fear and anxiety, of course, before she had the encounter with our Lord Jesus Christ. What about afterwards?

After she encountered the Lord face to face, her anxiety about the words and judgments of others melted away completely. Verse 28 says, “The woman then left her waterpot, went her way into the city, and said to the men, “Come, see a Man who told me all things that I ever did. Could this be the Christ?” Then they went out of the city and came to Him.” (John 4:28–30) No longer was she ashamed to be seen by the people; no longer did she worry about their judgments and whispers concerning her and the life she led. Instead, her anxiety melted in the Face of Christ. When she tasted the pure and sweet Living Water He offered her, she sought the Kingdom of God over her anxiety about what people would say or how they would judge her.

Not only that, but how did the people respond? Keep in mind that these people clearly had been judgmental to her in the past. Otherwise, why would she want to avoid them? However, after she ran down to them with all confidence, embracing the light of Christ and preaching the Living Water, the gospel tells us that “many of the Samaritans of that city believed in Him because of the word of the woman who testified, “He told me all that I ever did.”” (John 4:39) Let us meditate on this amazing reality, how faith in the Lord can transform an anxious woman living in sin to a great evangelist who converts many people. This is possible only if we seek the Kingdom of God first in our lives.

(2) Anxiety about Spouses

Secondly, the Samaritan woman felt anxiety over who she should marry. In the story, we hear she had five husbands and the man with whom she was living was not her husband. Clearly, this woman felt a need to constantly be attached to someone. This anxiety caused her to make the wrong choices. The gospel does not tell us what happened to the five husbands, but we know, at the very least, that the last person she was living with was not her husband. This anxiety she had to be with someone led her to lead a sinful life in living with a man who was not her husband.

This anxiety is very common among our youth and young professionals today. Young men and women become so focused on who they will marry, who will be their spouse, that they fall into sin in the midst of their anxiety. Why? Because in their anxiety, they become attached to the wrong people for the wrong reasons.

For example, many young people today express a desire to have a boyfriend or girlfriend even when they are very young, like those in junior high, high school, and college. They don’t realize that they do not have the mental, emotional, and spiritual maturity to choose the right person for them. They don’t realize that their mindsets and spiritual levels while in junior high are very different than their mindsets and spiritual levels after finishing their education or working in the world. Things constantly change as they develop and mature. If this is the case, what is the point in committing to someone today who will not be around tomorrow? It only causes pain and leads to sin.

Another example are those who are of the right age and maturity to get married, but nonetheless choose a spouse based on the wrong reason, such as physical appearance, wealth, or nationality. I am always saddened when I hear our young people say things like, “I will never marry an Egyptian” or “I will only marry an American.” It is not for us to close these doors, because when we do, we force God out of the decision. St. Gregory the Theologian teaches us that we should include God in this important decision of our lives, saying, “When you mean to take a [spouse], don’t go running to people, but to God. Tell God, ‘Appoint for me the one whom You have prepared for me in Your Providence.’ Entrust this matter to God, and He will reward you for granting such a great honor to Him.”

The Samaritan woman did not entrust this decision to God, but rather, she kept making her own decisions, going from husband to husband. What was the result? Did she find happiness? No, but rather, she ended up living with a man who was not her husband. She ended up having to go through great suffering and affliction every day to get water from the well at the hottest time of the day to avoid the judgments of people around her. She ended up constantly getting water that did not quench her thirst.

She lived with this anxiety before her encounter with the Lord, but what about afterwards?

After she met the Lord face to face, her anxiety about her spouse melted away. She was no longer concerned with spouses, because she found the True Husband of Our Souls, as the Scholar Origen says. Christ touched her heart and attracted her to Him more than any husband could have done. According to tradition, the Samaritan woman, whose name is St. Photini, became a missionary with her seven children after this encounter until all of her children were beheaded by the Emperor Nero. A short while afterwards, she herself departed in peace. Notice, however, that she had no husband with her in this new life as a missionary, for she found Christ, the True Husband of our Souls, and no longer had any anxiety about earthly attachments.

(3) Conclusion

The only way we can overcome anxiety is to dedicate ourselves completely to the providence of God and His lovingkindness. We must see God acting in every aspect of our lives. God shapes human history for your benefit and salvation, and for that of the world.

To apply this in our lives, we must first have confidence in our relationship with God. We must have confidence that we are living the gospel and imitating the example of our Lord Jesus Christ. This is why the first verse of the gospel says, “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life” (Luke 12:22). We will not worry about our lives if we are confident that we are living our lives in the right way. Secondly, we must have confidence in the love and care of God, Whom we worship and glorify. This is why, in the version of the Sermon on the Mount from the Gospel according to St. Matthew, the passage ends with, “Take no thought for tomorrow.” We will not worry about tomorrow if we have complete faith that tomorrow is in God’s hands.

May our Lord Jesus Christ, the True Husband of our Souls, grant us the faith and ability to grow in our present relationship with Him and focus on the Kingdom of Heaven more than the cares of tomorrow.

Additional information is as follows:

Prices

$120 Person/For Double Room
$95 Person/For Quad or 6 people
$15 Late Fee (After March 1)

Deadlines

March 1 (Regular)
March 8 (Late)

FAQ

Are children allowed on the retreat? We cannot accomodate children on this retreat. No one under the age of 22 years is allowed to attend unless they have graduated college.

Will transportation be provided? Transportation will not be provided. However, if you are willing to drive people to the retreat, please let us know so that we can try to arrange rides for people who would like to attend and cannot drive.

Can I switch my registration with someone else? We cannot allow switching registrations. Available spots will be assigned on a first come, first serve basis from the waiting list.

What are the closest airports? Ontario airport is closest to the retreat center.

I can’t afford the retreat, but I want to go. What can I do? Do not let lack of funding prevent you from benefiting from this retreat. Please contact us if you would like to attend but cannot afford the cost.

Can I come part-time? Though we strongly discourage coming part time, we will consider allowing part timers on a case by case basis and subject to availability once registration for the retreat has ended.

I have a question that isn’t answered here? Email us at info@lacoptsgyp.org

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As part of the diocese’s spiritual program during this holy season, our father, His Grace Bishop Serapion, has recorded a pastoral message for this Sunday of the Great Lent.

It is available for streaming and downloading here:

Pastoral Message for the Third Sunday of the Great Lent

<!—break—>

As part of the diocese’s spiritual program during this holy season, our father, His Grace Bishop Serapion, has recorded a pastoral message for this Sunday of the Great Lent.

It is available for streaming and downloading here:

Pastoral Message for the Third Sunday of the Great Lent

<!—break—>

As part of the diocese’s spiritual program during this holy season, our father, His Grace Bishop Serapion, has recorded a pastoral message for this Sunday of the Great Lent.

It is available for streaming and downloading here:

Pastoral Message for the Third Sunday of the Great Lent