Thirst for Christ

 

Have you ever experienced real thirst in your life? Not just a small desire for water, but a deep, overwhelming thirst?

My mind goes back to Good Friday. In my place, we have a custom on that day: we pray the Way of the Cross and walk long distances—sometimes from one parish to another, even up a mountain. It is often very hot and humid. As we walk, we sweat, we grow tired, and we become truly thirsty.

Along the way, some generous families place water in front of their homes for the pilgrims. When we stop and drink that water, it feels like the most delicious water we have ever tasted. Why? Because we are truly thirsty.

In the Old Testament, God promised the people of Israel that He would lead them out of slavery in Egypt into a land flowing with milk and honey. But on their journey, there came a time when they had no water to drink. They began to complain against their leader, Moses: “Why did you bring us out of Egypt? At least there we had water!”

Moses turned to God in prayer: “Lord, why is this happening? I did what You asked. Where are You now?” We often say, “God is good all the time,” but in difficult moments, we too begin to question.

Then God told Moses something surprising: “Take your staff and strike the rock.” Humanly speaking, it seems absurd—how can water come from a rock? But Moses trusted God, obeyed Him, and water flowed in abundance.

The people were thirsty for physical water.

In the New Testament, we see something even more beautiful. God Himself, in the person of Jesus Christ, becomes thirsty—and asks for water.

At the well, Jesus meets the Samaritan woman and says, “Give me a drink.” She is surprised and even resistant: “How can you, a Jew, ask me, a Samaritan, for water?” There was division and mistrust between them.

But Jesus gently continues the conversation and says, “If you knew who is asking you, you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.”

At first, she misunderstands. Then her attitude begins to change. She moves from seeing Him as a stranger, to calling Him “Sir,” then recognizing Him as a prophet, and finally believing that He is the Messiah.

This is what happens when we truly encounter God—our attitude changes.

When the woman came to the well, she carried two things. First, she carried her water jar. But more importantly, she carried her past—her pain, her shame, her burdens.

When she encountered Jesus, she experienced someone who truly understood her. She left behind not only her water jar, but also her shame. She was freed. She went back not with her head bowed, but with joy—almost as if she were dancing—because she had been liberated.

This is exactly what happens in our lives.

It is what happens in the sacraments—especially in the Sacrament of Reconciliation and in the Eucharist. We come carrying burdens: our sins, struggles, and worries. But when we place them before God, He frees us.

If we truly experience God, we cannot remain the same. We return with joy.

That is what it means to be a Christian.

Today, as we celebrate this Eucharist, let us remember: God does not want us to remain in sin or sadness. He wants us to be free and joyful, just like the Samaritan woman.

We have a beautiful opportunity—to experience God’s mercy. And once we truly experience that mercy, we will no longer walk with our heads bowed in shame, but lifted high in joy.

Because we believe in a God who forgives, who forgets our sins, who takes away our shame, and who never judges us by our past.

So today, as we partake in this Eucharist, let us seek God’s mercy, allow Him to free us from our old ways, and renew our lives with His grace.

May God bless us all. Amen.