The Worth Of Water
“When the well’s dry, we know the worth of water.” ~ Benjamin Franklin
The readings are full of water images this weekend. In the first reading, Moses struck a rock from which water flowed for the people to drink. In the Gospel, a Samaritan woman encountered Jesus at a well and her heart was inspired to see Jesus as the living water come down from heaven.
I remember, growing up, that we had a cottage on the Tippecanoe river outside of Rochester, Indiana. As it was far removed from city services, we had to have a well dug in order to bring water into the cottage that we had built.
There was one hassle with that, however. Since we would not get there on a very regular basis, the well pump often lost its hold of water and we would have to bring a gallon or two of water with us in order to prime the pump.
Once the pump was primed, it was able to draw the water from the ground once again and hold it throughout the weekend that we would stay in the cottage.
We often lose the prime on our souls. When we do not practice the faith as we ought, we find it harder to tap that spiritual strength that we need in order to live our lives as faithful Christians. We need to prime our pump with good, old-fashioned works of charity and mercy. Doing good for others, praying more regularly, and sacrificing are all ways to prime that pump. That is what Lent challenges us to do.
If we do not, we may run dry, just like any well that is not tapped on a regular basis.
We all thirst. As a matter of fact, “thirst” is a very common and powerful word. We take it to mean a deep longing or desire. We use it when talking about people thirsting for justice, people thirsting for love, as well as people thirsting for water to quench a parched body.
Our souls also thirst for the Lord. The Samaritan woman reflects that deep longing that is in each and every one of us. Some people mask that longing by trying to fill their thirst with worldly goods. Others mask that longing by reaching out to the wrong people and find themselves led astray.
It is only the Lord who can lead us safely to the Kingdom. It is only the Lord who can quench our parched souls. It is only the Lord who can provide all of our needs. Why, then, do we look to satisfy our thirst in other places or other people?
FAITH ACTION: Spend time with the Lord in prayer this day, going to the source of life-giving waters and quenching your thirst.