Scripture Reading:                                                                        John 4: 5-12

Water:  A Life Giving Force

What is this water that Jesus is talking about? How do we quench this thirst and where does this thirsting come from? How does water live? These are questions that come to my mind after reading this account of the Samaritan woman at the well. As I meditate on this scripture, it brings to my mind the facts behind the critical role water plays in our lives. First of all, water makes up 65% of our bodies. The human brain consists of 85% water and 10 to 15% of our bones are water. We know that water is made up of hydrogen and oxygen. These elements have life giving properties that ensure our existence and preserve our systems.

More often than not, we go through our days not thinking about the role water plays. Most days, those of us who live in the United States, take it for granted that we can turn on the tap and water will spring forth. We can turn it on and off anytime we choose. If our physical bodies need the nourishment of water, we simply reach for a glass or bottle and satisfy this need

But isn’t there a correlation between this water and the living water Jesus talks about? I believe there is. Jesus tells us that the living water is more powerful than the water from the well. When we drink from the well, we will thirst again. However, when we drink of the living water we will no longer thirst, “…Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him [her] will never thirst again” (John 4: 13 – 14). This living water represents the spiritual need of our souls that is satisfied through our relationship with Jesus Christ. This water quenches our spiritual hunger and thirst. It is through our relationship with Jesus that God works for our good through all things.

However, we take it for granted that when we need nourishment from God we simply turn on our prayers. When we’re satisfied we turn them off and walk away feeling fulfilled. This feeling doesn’t last for long. Soon we are thirsty again and find ourselves searching for a way to quench the dryness. Secondly, we take for granted that all we have to do is ask God to supply for our needs and it will be so. However, if we do not preserve and improve the quality of our relationship with Jesus Christ, we stand to struggle mighty trying to quench this thirst.

Why is that when we are physically hungry or thirsty we know how to seek nourishment and work to fulfill this need? Yet, when we are in need of spiritual nourishment we slack off and don’t put a lot of effort into quenching our spiritual thirst. We would never think o f depriving ourselves of food or drink to sustain our bodies. Yet, we deprive our souls of spiritual nourishment when we turn away from Jesus.

So what do we need to do to ensure that this living water is in full abundance and readily available to sustain our living bodies? How do we partake of this living water? Well, God has given us the means to receive this living water through the living words of Jesus Christ. God came to us in the form of human flesh through Jesus Christ to give us the opportunity to quench our spiritual thirst. When we sin and turn away from God, we can nourish our souls through a relationship with Jesus Christ. Jesus suffered and died so that we could experience God’s love and grace. Water lives when we maintain our relationship with God through Jesus Christ. It lives when we take in the word of God through prayer and study. Living water springs forth when we do God’s will and we are witnesses and examples of God’s love through Jesus Christ.

Just as water is critical to our physical survival, the living water of Jesus Christ is essential for our souls to thrive. During lent we have an opportunity to reflect on the word of God and seek out this living water. We are reminded through Christ suffering, death, and resurrection that God’s love never ends and the living water flows forth waiting for us to come and quench our thirst.