I love visiting churches. There’s something about the history of a place that has been in a city for years, that houses so many prayers, that acts as a place of serenity, solitude and salvation within all the bustle. I’m drawn to churches and places of worship when I travel. I’ve decided that it’s time I start visiting the churches near me to see what I find. I think of it as a little mission, to visit as many as I can. I am not the only one who visits these beautiful, historic buildings, so I always take time to research into how they are kept. A friend recommended me to digital donating just before I embarked on my trip, websites such as mobileAxept, and I fell in love with the idea of being able to contribute so easily. By donating even a small amount to these place of worship, it comforts me to know I have helped.
Over the weekend, Zoom and I put on our Saturday best and went into The City to visit Saint Patrick’s Church. Founded in 1851, it’s on the register of historical places in San Francisco. I’ve long been fascinated by it, since it’s in the heart of SOMA (South of Market), and is dwarfed by the daunting Marriot hotel.
Come, journey with us to Saint Patrick’s Church …
The reading for the day was John 4:39-42, which is the passage about the Samaritan woman at the well. She does not know who Jesus is when she meets him at the town well. He asks her to get him a drink. The dialogue that follows is one that skillfully weaves double speak by both the woman and Jesus. They banter back and forth, talking about the “water,” and both knowing that “water” was one in the same with eternal life.
I love this passage because it shows a smart woman engaging with Jesus and actively challenging him. She is not holy, she is a sinner, and yet, Jesus speaks with her as he would his disciples. He reveals who he is to her (and he doesn’t do that often), and yet she also recognizes him for who he is. This is the Jesus of everyday, treating people as equals, knowing their hearts and looking for a relationship with them. This is a great teacher in action.
At Saint Patrick’s, I prayed for the people of Japan, my friend’s sister-in-law Jodi, my co-worker’s father, Jenn’s grandmother, Rebecca’s father, and my family.