Living Waters

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

Most of don't drink enough water and even when we do, we can feel very parched and dry. We often find ourselves in arid, dry times, seasons when we feel as if we are dragging our bodies through every day with no relief.  Our work, our families and our health can be extraordinarily challenging. Some seasons in life wear us down. Often, we lash out, play politics or trash talk when we are hurting. Jesus invites us to a different place, the place of refreshment and renewal found only in him. I know too often I fail to put my sorrows into prayer and let anger swallow me up. May we all turn to Jesus in our dark nights, our deserts, in our isolation and in all times.

Loving Creator, source of all living water

we are refreshed and renewed in your love

buoyed by your compassion and care

and tenderly healed of our broken hearts.

We roil in anger and in our heartache

we think we have been completely abandoned

yet you never stop offering your love

and call us to be refreshed and healed in you.

Make us always ready to turn to you

let your living waters flow over and through us

so that we might be strengthened and healed

for your service here on this aching earth. Amen.