Scrutiny Reflection/Quilt: Woman at the Well
The “scrutinies” are a series of three readings from the Gospel of John, used during lent by those entering into the Catholic faith as preparation for baptism. The “elect,” or those seeking baptism, are invited to scrutinize their lives and meditate on these stories of God’s mercy with the whole community as they determine their readiness for baptism.
My husband, Fred, teaches RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults) at our church and uses these readings for instruction. Several months ago, he wrote reflections for each of these three readings. The first is the story of the woman at the well, the second is about the man born blind and the third is the raising of Lazarus. He asked me to create art quilts to go with each of them and requested that they be "modern" and somewhat abstract.
Here is the first reflection based on John 4:3-42.
By Fred Fosnacht
Reflection on First Scrutiny
The Woman at the Well
If you knew
The reason I pass
On the morning coolness
And take the longer road
To the comfort of the well,
If you knew
The truth of my secrets
Locked tight in memory
Beneath the shroud of my shame,
If you knew the stares endured
And lies whispered
Which bind my name
To unholy story,
You too would ask my leave
At the community pool
And direct the children
Away from touch and talk.
So, late in the day is my arrival,
After those more worthy
Quench and wash and play and talk.
But you dare
To meet my gaze and foreign features,
Asking for unholy water
From unholy hands.
And as you drink
I am quenched.
Your mercy makes pure
What washing could not.
As you search and probe,
Among unspeakable secrets,
My deeper self becomes a holy gap
Finding absolution.
Pour over me
Your Holy water,
That my desert of infamy
Is drowned in the river of life-giving water.
The Woman at the Well
Designed, Pieced and Quilted
By Mary Kay Fosnacht
23 x 39"
