Take some time to read through the story of Jesus speaking with the Samaritan Woman at the Well (John 4.4-42), then, return to this reflection by Frances. Please feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section below.
We can't offer to others what we don’t possess in ourselves. We can't give drink to others from our wells of limited resources. We have no drink to offer when our wells are flooded with unfiltered waters. Flooding leads to erosion which breaks us down into an unrecognizable swamp.
The only way we can offer to others in their need is if we first have balance. This balance is when our wells meet with the connection to the purest water source, the living water of Christ. The journeys we take in our lives cause our souls to demand to constant hydration. When our souls’ thirst is not attended to it causes spiritual dehydration. Thirst comes from our needs burning inside of us.
This thirst is impossible to quench by the drawing of water from our personal wells. We comfort ourselves by saying that we have just enough to get through the day and take tiny sips. This doesn't quench our thirst and leaves us absolutely nothing to give to others in need. The other extreme is when our wells seek connection we aim for unfiltered and unfamiliar water from the world instead of a real connection to the source. All this flooding water can cause our wells to become muddy and unclear. We take in this imitation drink and drown in its deceptively familiar taste, not noticing as it slowly breaks down our well-being. Everyone is drinking it, so we drink in excess and realize that the erosion of our soul causes numbness, but doesn't satiate our thirst. We are left in spiritual burnout, irritable and confused.
The only cure is drinking in the waters from the true source, God, and connecting to our well to the living waters of Jesus. The living water moves by the power of the Holy Spirit. Only this water can refresh our souls.
Living water, flowing through God, we thirst for more of you. (Casting Crowns, Thrive)
These are the lyrics to a song that understands our needs. The ultimate way for needs to be met is to come into balance and find the connection to the source. Jesus will meet us at our ancestral well while we are attempting to draw water. He will ask us for a drink from our cups, we realize what we give is nothing compared to what he offers us. Jesus takes our cups with their faults and brokenness, returning them brimming over with clear, refreshing waters. This overflow comes straight from God, our source of the living waters. This is living water that moves from the Holy Spirit who understands our needs better than we or the world ever could.
Jesus wants us to share our cup with him in a most intimate way. Our daily walk with Jesus involves him taking our cups from us and washing away yesterday’s residue. Jesus then fills us with the source that refreshes the thirst in our souls which can now overflow into the cups of fellow travelers on the journey. Giving drink to the thirsty starts with accepting Jesus’ invitation and sharing this thirst quenching drink with others in need.
Frances Cifuentes
Recent RCIA
Holy Name Parishioner
Newly Mandated Minister of Care
Women’s Spirituality - Lectio Divina
Thanks for sharing. Very well written.
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