Quenching Our Thirst
Jesus said, “If you knew the generosity of God and who I am, you would be asking me for a drink, and I would give you fresh, living water. Everyone who drinks the water from this well will get thirsty again and again. But anyone who drinks the water I give will never thirst—not ever. The water I give will be an artesian spring within, gushing fountains of endless life.”
No doubt, we live in a culture that is obsessed with water bottles! Many of us rarely leave home without one and we carry them everywhere. Ready to have your mind blown? One million plastic bottles are sold every minute on our planet, totaling 583.3 billion in 2021. Astonishing! We have a thing for constantly being in touch with our source of water. And taking it with us wherever we go.
Interesting, don’t you think?
I am left to ponder how much attention I pay to satisfying my spiritual thirst, my spiritual longings; and we all have them, recognized or not. The gospel quoted above, referred to as The Story of the Woman at the Well, is often read during the Lenten season, reminding us of our deep thirst and longing for something greater than ourselves.
Sometimes I want to put off taking my own trip to the well to fill up, like this morning when I really wanted to begin my day full steam ahead, get busy with my own agenda and push the trip to the well aside for another time, which probably would have never happened and would have left me out of sorts and thirsty all day. The faithful Divine Mystery is quick to remind me that I cannot give what I don’t have. I cannot be a source of that same water for others if I first don’t drink it myself. If I am to lead others to the well, I must first drink of the well. And so I went to the well and I drank. I filled myself up with the living water. It’s always so refreshing and I am never disappointed in it’s ability to satisfy my soul. Why do I ever hesitate?
The Lenten season reminds us to come to the well, spending time drawing close to the true Living Water by praying, fasting and alms-giving. Even though you, like me, might be quick to find excuses, I invite you this week to go to the well, fill yourself up, and take this water with you wherever you go as you re-present Christ to the world. There are a lot of thirsty people out there, my friends. Let’s lead them to the well.