For What Do We Thirst?

“Jesus answered and said to her,
‘If you knew the gift of God
and who is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink, ‘
you would have asked him 
and he would have given you living water.’”

John 4:10

What are the things that we thirst for in our lives? Do we thirst for power? Fame? Wealth? Other people’s approval and affirmation? What are the things that we convince ourselves is what our hearts truly desire? The Samaritan woman went to draw water from the well at noon to that she might quench her physical thirst and have water to use around the house. But Jesus knew she thirsted for something more. There is a deeper desire that yearns to be fulfilled, but no water from any earthly well can satisfy it. It is a desire for something that transcends the bounds of time and space. It is a desire and thirst that can only be quenched by something that is supernatural, something that can only be satisfied by God.

When Jesus first encounters the Samaritan woman, she was only concerned with what could relieve her of her immediate and physical needs — water and the convenience of not needing to go to the well again. Jesus says to her, “If you only knew the gift of God…” Jesus encourages her to be bold in her prayer, to be bold in her requests because of to whom she is making this request. God can grant you what your heart really wants. Ask for it. While the woman simply asked for water so she did not need to run back to the well in shame for fear of rejection from the others (for she was an adulterer), Jesus wanted to give to her freedom from this fear and shame. He wanted to give her new life.

Jesus wants to do the same for us. He wants to give us the living water that will free us from the things that hold us bondage — from the things that cause us fear and shame, the things that we feel others will see us differently if they knew about them, the things that we so desperately hold on to to maintain some sort of control or power. Jesus comes to us today and asks us “Do you thirst for a new life of freedom?” What are the things that we thirst for? Do they lead us to freedom or do they keep us chained down? Let us, in humility, ask the Lord for the grace and strength to be honest with the things we have been thirsting for and to turn to Him and boldly ask for the living waters, the water that will truly quench the thirst in our hearts and souls. May we never forget “the gift of God” to which Jesus invites us and may we never receive it in vain.

For another reflection on the Samaritan Woman at the Well, see this reflection.

For a deeper study of this powerful encounter, see last year’s Lenten Conference, “Meeting Jesus at the Well.”

Foolish in the Eyes of the World

As you may have guessed by the famous painting of Rembrandt that is sprinkled throughout the website, the Parable of the Prodigal Son holds a very special place in my heart. Today’s Gospel reading is this parable. We have the privilege of hearing this parable at Sunday Mass every three years on the Fourth Sunday of Lent. This parable is really a masterful love story about a father whose mercy is so boundless that it appears foolish to the world, but that does not stop the father from loving and forgiving.

The parable begins, “A man had two sons…” where the younger decides that he’s had enough of home and dares ask his father for his share of the inheritance, virtually saying his father is dead to him. The father seemingly foolishly divides his estate up and gives it to him. Without a word of gratitude, the younger son sets off on his “new life” of debauchery and drunkenness, wasting every last penny of his share of the inheritance. When push came to shove, he’d rather hire himself out to foreigners to do work that no Jew would or could lawfully do instead of returning home. Isn’t this the story of many of us? Even when we have made decisions that we knew were bad and as the consequences were slowly manifesting, we remain stubborn and obstinate, refusing to ask for help or to admit to our wrongdoing. Instead we convince ourselves, “I’ve got this,” not from a spirit of trust in God’s Providence, but rather a spirit of excessive pride. Thankfully (and hopefully) the scales from our eyes and the locked door to our hearts eventually fall and unlock, and we come to accept that we have not always been right and we “turn around” and reach out to those whom we know will always answer us when we call. No surprise, the younger son in the parable also eventually came to his senses when he was literally fighting pigs for food. When he makes it home, his father embraces him and kisses him. His father sees only his son and not the hurtful things he may have said or done. All that matters is that his son is home. The same goes for God, our Father in heaven.

At this time I will not explore too much of the parable, but if you are interested, you can read, listen to, or watch the different reflections and conferences I offered on this beautiful encounter.

Let us always remember that we have a Father in heaven who is like the father in this parable who loves us so deeply that He seems like a fool to those without faith. He patiently waits for us to come home and when we do, He does not scold us or scream at us, rather, He embraces us and reminds us of our truest identity: His beloved sons and daughters, and nothing — no sin, no evil can ever take that away from us. How blessed are we!

Atop the Mountain

“Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother,
and led them up a high mountain by themselves.”

Matthew 17:1

On the Second Sunday of Lent we hear proclaimed the account of the Transfiguration where Jesus brings Peter, James, and John up the mountain. Whenever we hear of mountains we know something important is going to happen. Mountains are the places of encounter between God and man. Just as Moses encountered God in the cloud on Mount Sinai, Peter, James, and John encountered the Son of the Living God transfigured before them on the high mountain, giving them a glimpse of Jesus in His glory. Today we are invited to go up that mountain too.

The trio Peter, James, and John has been given a special privilege and they are set apart from the other Apostles not because they are more special or important but because for whatever reason God chose to reveal to them and allow them to experience things that others did not. God chose these three for this mountaintop experience. On that mountain Jesus showed Peter, James, and John a side of Him that was yet to happen in human history — Jesus in all of His glory, in the Resurrection and the Ascension.

Peter exclaimed, “It is good that we are here!” Indeed it was, and so much so that Peter offered to build tents — one for Jesus, one for Moses, and one for Elijah. But Peter got it wrong. Jesus did not bring Peter up for a camping trip and to stay a while to see the gorgeous views. This moment ought to serve as an anchor and a moment to encourage the Apostles when the journey grew difficult after Jesus ascends to the Father. To think back on this mountaintop moment, knowing that the victory has been won and that Christ is victorious and that they are sharers in His glory. Jesus did not bring them up so that they could stay, but rather so that they might have the strength and courage to go down the mountain to meet and serve the people who awaits them.

These tents that Peter offered to pitch can be thought of as our many attachments. What are the attachments in my life that keep me from following Christ and pursuing all that is good and holy? Peter did not want to go, he did not want to face what was to come, and he did not understand (yet) the mission of Jesus. Perhaps we are the same sometimes. Where are the places in our hearts that we so often want to and have pitched tents? How long have we stayed there? Perhaps it is time to pack up our things and continue with our journey. Jesus leads us, but will we follow? Let us bring to mind those mountaintop experiences — a good retreat, a “God moment,” a moving encounter, a powerful moment of grace in the sacraments — and allow them to motivate us and encourage us on our journey when we feel tempted to pitch tents. When we feel tired along our journey, pitching tents will not give us the reenergizing we need. It is the Sacraments, and encounters with God in those privileged words and actions that will nourish us, reenergize us, and point us back to Christ.

Brothers and sisters, Jesus leads us atop the mountain today. As we kneel before the Eucharist when the priest elevates the consecrated Host at Mass today, may we see Our Transfigured Lord, and, after receiving Him, courageously walk down the mountain and bring the Good News of Christ to all we come to meet.