Living water
John 4:1-42
The water that I will give will become…a spring of water gushing up to eternal life. v. 14b
Jesus has a simple request of a Samaritan woman drawing water from Jacob’s Well in the middle of the day. “Give me a drink.” Jesus is thirsty. So is the woman though she doesn’t acknowledge it yet. She deflects his request with a comment that sets off a religious or theological debate. Who deserves God’s care and concern?
Jesus offers what he calls ‘living water.” Again, having physical thirst quenched is important but not everything. Especially in John’s gospel physical thirst also indicates a spiritual thirst that water itself can’t satisfy.
What does satisfy is, first of all, remembering the source of the water. It’s not just the ancestor Jacob who provided the well, God did. It’s not just a municipal utility that provides water, God does. It’s not just the ground with a pipe sinking 100 feet into the earth that provides water, but this is God’s gift.
Secondly, the glass of water in our hand becomes living water as it become life-giving water. When that glass leaves our hand and is given to someone who is thirsty, it is life-giving water. It becomes living water when it hydrates a human-divine connection and enhances someone’s God-given life.
Even with water’s abundance on our planet, even with the wonderful cycle of water that keeps renewing, we still are commissioned as caretakers of this earth to use the water wisely for everyone’s benefit. We are challenged to keep that water free of contamination so that it contributes to life for all.
PRAY: God of all creation, the abundance of water amazes us and makes us grateful. In recognizing it as a gift, may it be living water for us and for those with whom we share it. Amen.
FAST: From using the dishwasher today.
ACT: Set aside a carton of juice packs for a local food pantry
OR $1 for World Hunger Appeal water projects.
...the least of these... 