Happy International Women’s Day!
The Samaritan Woman
In John 4:5–42, Jesus meets a Samaritan woman at a well in the heat of the day. This was no ordinary encounter. Jews did not speak to Samaritans — and yet Jesus not only spoke to her, He asked her for a drink.
He already knew everything about her — the broken relationships, the searching, the sin. And still, He did not condemn her. He invited her.
He offered her living water — not the kind drawn from a well, but the kind that satisfies the deepest thirst of the human heart. She listened. She believed. And then she ran back to her village to tell everyone she met.
This woman — with all of her past — became one of the first evangelists. An entire town came to believe because of her witness.
On this International Women’s Day, that is worth sitting with. Jesus has always seen women — not as the world sees them, not defined by their past — but as souls worthy of the living water that leads to eternal life.
7 When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Give me some water to drink.” 8 His disciples had gone into the town to purchase food. 9 The Samaritan woman said to him, “You are a Jew. How can you ask me, a Samaritan woman, for some water to drink?” (Jews do not share anything in common with Samaritans.) 10 Jesus replied,
“If you recognized the gift of God
and who it is that is asking you for something to drink,
you would have asked him
and he would have given you living water.”
11 “Sir,” the woman said, “you do not have a bucket, and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? 12 Are you greater than our ancestor Jacob who gave us this well and drank from it himself along with his sons and his cattle?” 13 Jesus said to her,
“Everyone who drinks this water
will be thirsty again.
14 But whoever drinks the water that I will give him
will never be thirsty.
The water that I will give him
will become a spring of water within him
welling up to eternal life.”
15 The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water so that I may not be thirsty and have to come here to draw water.”
God gave us specific roles in life. Whether I wanted to accept it or not, my role as a young woman was being a wife and mother. The world was different 54 years ago — and like so many women of my generation, I wanted to be heard.
Searching for Direction
I have never dabbled in neo-paganism — otherwise known as witchcraft — or at least that is what I believed to be true at the time. But when I was attending college in the 1970s, we were bombarded with social issues on every side: the war in Vietnam, and the women’s movement, which was gaining momentum on college campuses. I found myself questioning my sense of womanhood.
The Women’s Movement
Getting caught up in the frenzy, one day I reached my breaking point — and I decided to leave. It was Susan B. Anthony Day. Believe me when I say that this was the bravest thing I had ever done as a young adult. Driving from Santa Barbara to Colton was terrifying. I rarely drove on freeways, and yet there I was — alone, with my baby boy, pushing through fear mile by mile. I know without a doubt that God had assigned His angels — His special agents — to get me and my baby boy safely to my mother’s home that day.
Thank the good Lord that I married young. Though I was caught up in this movement for a hot minute, it was not conducive to my lifestyle. When I was 21, our son Mikos was born — and yet, even then, that rebellious spirit was still running through my blood.
The Connection
How do I make the connection between witchcraft and the current women’s movement? Well, it is not hard to see. Women who are involved in witchcraft are turning to crystals, calling on Mother Nature as their goddess, and embracing New Age beliefs — and in doing so, they are opening every door possible to welcome dark, evil spirits into their lives.
The Devil does not need much. He waits for the opportunity, and then — like the snake in Genesis — he slithers in. Do these women realize they are opening these doors? Some do it with full intention. Others innocently fall into the trap set by Satan. Either way, remember this: Satan loves it when we are in the dark.
Why do these women feel such a need for empowerment? Many are broken and angry. They blame men and what they call patriarchal rules. They turn away from Christianity because they struggle with the masculinity and the nature of God — and some go so far as to believe that God is a woman.
Thank the good Lord that I married very young. Though I was involved in this movement for a hot minute, it was not conducive to my lifestyle. You see, when I was 21 our son Mikos was born. But the rebellious spirit was still running through my blood.
You Don’t Need A Man
The demasculating of men is very apparent in this movement, and it is slowly taking a toll on young men. This ideology is riddled with confusion — and sometimes young men simply do not know how to react. My advice to them is to seek out a well-grounded young woman who is serving God. And my advice to young women is this: if you want to be treated like a queen, treat a man like a king.
Stepping Into The Masculine Role
God created men to be the head of the household. When that is disrupted, it throws off the entire order — the role of a man, the stability of a family, the peace of a home.
I know this firsthand. My husband Mike wants nothing more than to take care of me and our family. Nothing pleases him more than fulfilling his role as husband and father. I need his protection, and I welcome everything he does for us.
4 He must manage his own household well and ensure that his children are submissive and respectful in every way. 5 For if someone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of the Church of God?
Falling Into The Trap
Satan is the father of lies — John 8:44 — and he deceives even the most elect — Matthew 24:24. We need to become the example God called us to be. Falling into the trap of deception will only lead to emptiness. We, as women, must step up and become completely whole. With Christ, there is no partiality between men and women. Once we come on board, the gifts set aside for us will be poured out — so abundantly that we will have more than enough to share with others.
The Gifts
I prayed for years about having a platform to share the Gospel — and the Lord gave me this blog. It came through a long, vivid dream in which He instructed me about the name: My Catholic Roots Are Showing. When I woke up, I said, “No, Lord! That title will offend Protestants. It’s too long!” The following night, I had the very same dream. That was all the confirmation I needed. This blog has now been in existence for almost ten years.
My Prayer
Lord, may we all drink from the living waters You provide for us. Blessed Mary, thank you for being the greatest role model for all women. Bestow on all women the gentle spirit of Your Blessed Mother. Amen.