Water is vital to all living creatures. It represents life and divine blessing.
Water covers 71 per cent of the Earth, with that, it is easy to think that it will always be plentiful.
But, sad to say, in the recent study there is a growing global water crisis exists today.
More than two billion people lack access to safe drinking water.
It means nearly half the global population experiences water scarcity annually.
In short, billions of people are still thirsty.
What about you, are you thirsty for water? Or are you thirsty for ‘living water’ like the Samaritan woman in the scripture.
We all know that water is a precious gift from God.
In Christian spirituality, water acts as a symbol of spiritual cleansing, renewal, and divine mercy.
The gospel of John recounts the story of conversion of the Samaritan woman who engaged with Jesus in a profound conversation about the “living water” at Jacob’s well.
After the conversation, upon realising her personal, checkered history, she recognises Jesus as a prophet.
Her life was totally changed by her encounter with Jesus, leading to leave her water jar behind, symbolising the abandonment of her old, “thirsty” life.
She has all the water she needs to quench her thirst, yet she thirsts for something more that will satisfy her spiritual dryness and longing for meaning.
As a result of the encounter, she chooses not only to follow Jesus but also to tell other people about Him.
The Samaritan woman is like us in so many ways.
Many of us are still searching for meaning and experiencing spiritual dryness.
We need Jesus, the source of the ‘living water’ that fulfills our deepest spiritual thirst and meaning.
St Augustine says, “You have made us for yourself, O God, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you”.
~ Contributed by Fr Line Abilgos of St Michael’s Catholic Church, on behalf of the Combined Churches of Deniliquin.
