Third Sunday of Lent, 2023

By Sr. Stefanie MacDonald

Reading through our gospel for tomorrow, there was one word that I began to ponder. That word was thirst. 

Jesus had been thirsty from his travels. He asked the Samaritan women for a drink. In reality, was Jesus’ thirst for the salvation of this women? St. Augustine wrote: “Although Jesus asked for a drink, His real thirst was for this women’s faith.” 

And, profoundly, “I thirst” was Jesus’ last words as he hung on the cross. At the moment of his death, was Jesus thirsting for all of us? 

I recently read a letter that Mother Teresa wrote where she focused on the words “I thirst.” I also have read that in every convent of the Missionaries of Charity throughout the world you will find the words “I thirst,” displayed beneath an arm of the crucifix. Mother Teresa asked her sisters to constantly reflect on Jesus’ words: “I thirst.”

After my reading and reflection the following questions came to my mind: For what do I thirst? For what do we all thirst? For what do we individually thirst?

I should thirst for the love of God. I need to seek God each and everyday of my life. That should be my focus and what drives how I live, love, and welcome. Do I do this? 

What are the things I let get in the way of my thirst for the love of God? Is it my thirst for control? My need and desire to control the situations and events in my life. Do I lack faith and trust for the journey? Am I listening to God’s voice or just my own when making decisions? Am I letting fear and anxiety control the decisions I make? Do I think I know best and not listen to the voices around me?

Or is it filling my day with work that needs to been done instead of taking time to sit in the presence of my God?

Or is it the past wounds from others that I am unable to forgive and continue past?

Or do I stop myself from participating or volunteering because of the fear of my weaknesses being shown, like the Samaritan women going to the well in the midday heat in order not to be seen?

Or is it material items, and the care of those items, that I put before people?

Or is it taking the easy or conventional way in my purchases and disposal of items instead of taking the time and effort to care for the beauty of all God’s Creation?

It is up to us to open our heart and thirst for God’s love. It is there for us. God’s love never stops. Mother Teresa wrote: “God stands at the door of our hearts and calls… ‘Open to ME for I thirst for you.’”

Let us open our hearts and turn all we are - our strengths and our weaknesses - to God.  Mother Teresa ends her letter with, “Jesus is God, therefore His Love and His Thirsts are infinite. He, the Creator of the universe, asked for the love of his creatures. He has thirst for our Love… These words: I THIRST… Do they echo in our soul?