Anyone Who is Thirsty

On the last day of the festival, the great day, while Jesus was standing there, he cried out, "Let anyone who is thirsty come to me, and let the one who believes in me drink. As the scripture has said, 'Out of the believer's heart shall flow rivers of living water.'" Now he said this about the Spirit, which believers in him were to receive; for as yet there was no Spirit, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

When they heard these words, some in the crowd said, "This is really the prophet." Others said, "This is the Messiah." But some asked, "Surely the Messiah does not come from Galilee, does he? Has not the scripture said that the Messiah is descended from David and comes from Bethlehem, the village where David lived?" So there was a division in the crowd because of him. Some of them wanted to arrest him, but no one laid hands on him.

Then the temple police went back to the chief priests and Pharisees, who asked them, "Why did you not arrest him?" The police answered, "Never has anyone spoken like this!" Then the Pharisees replied, "Surely you have not been deceived too, have you? Has any one of the authorities or of the Pharisees believed in him? But this crowd, which does not know the law - they are accursed." Nicodemus, who had gone to Jesus before, and who was one of them, asked, "Our law does not judge people without first giving them a hearing to find out what they are doing, does it?" They replied, "Surely you are not also from Galilee, are you? Search and you will see that no prophet is to arise from Galilee." John 7:37-52

Thirsty

The brown earth brittle and dry
the late August sun unrelenting
high above sea level humidity
I sigh for thirst and need.

He was unwanted and unexpected
drawn forth for renewal of the world
to a dry, arid land of shriveled hopes
to people who shunned the least.

Their rivers had run dry from abuse
their faith was shallow due to disuse
their songs died in their arid throats
their criticism like banners flung wide.

He arrived for all who would admit
to need, ache and sheer isolation
his tools were simple love and faith
his life given for our restoration.

Let us be those who set aside greed and pride
who revel in our humility and our need
let us draw close to the one from Galilee
where came the healing of the world.