“Knee Deep in Water and Dying
of Thirst” by Wayne Miller
Give
us water, so that we may drink. The Lord answered Moses, “Go over
there in front of the people, along with some of the elders of Israel, holding
in your hand, as you go, the staff with which you struck the river. I will be
standing there in front of you on the rock in Horeb. Exodus 17:5-6
Oh,
that today you would hear his voice: “Harden not your hearts…” Psalm 95:7b-8a
The
love of God has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has
been given to us. “…hope does not disappoint, because the love of
God has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been
given to us…”
Romans 5:1-2, 5-8
Lord,
you are truly the Savior of the world; give me living water, that I may never
thirst again.
John 4:42, 15
Piety
You’re
writing a gospel, a chapter each day,
By the
deeds that you do and the words that you say.
Men
read your gospel, whether faithless or true.
Say,
what is the gospel, according to you?
John Gilbert
Study
Dear
Brothers and Sisters in Christ, notwithstanding the turmoil of COVID 19, this
has been a most blessed season for me. I feel compelled to share some of my
“BFO’s” (Blinding Flashes of the Obvious) with you to set the stage for my
reflection on the Woman at the Well. I’m trusting in your patience and
acceptance of this attempt to share the Love of Our Lord that is welling up in
me.
“The
Path to Holiness is in & through our everyday life, tasks, and duties!”
Not just in prayer.
Not just in
suffering.
Not just in adoration
or liturgy.
Not just in
silence/contemplation.
But also, in rest,
joy, fun.
In everyday movement,
daily commute, bus stop, slug line, I-95,
Not just in work, but
in every person & event & task we meet and do every day.
God is
in ALL OUR STUFF – Wild Goose Ministry comment 3/4/20
What is
“Holiness”? Living in the flow of God’s Love that moves in and around and
through us every moment of our life – BFO 3/7/20
“The
Holy Spirit writes gospels with our lives.
Living in Holiness, we are the Paper. Our life-loving, suffering,
breathing – is the Ink. The Holy Spirit
is the Pen writing our living gospel!”[i]
What is
“GOSPEL”? It is “GOOD NEWS.” What is the “Good News”?
First, the Kingdom of
Heaven is here & now because God is HERE & NOW & With us & In
us.
Secondly, He gave us
Free Will to live in this world any way we choose.
If we choose to see
our world as drab and dirty and threatening, something that must be conquered
and survived by our effort, we are freely allowed to live that way. We can
grasp as much joy, sorrow, suffering, success, and failure as we can.
If we choose to
accept & act with the living presence of the TRIUNE GOD in our hearts,
flowing in and out, and around us, we will see vibrant colors, beautiful
vistas, and loving spirits surrounding us.
We will know in every moment that we are not alone – even in our most
solitary situations. Why? Because our
three Best Friends (Abba/Dad, Jesus/Brother, & Their Love/Spirit) will fill
our hearts, heads, vision, and hearing, continually encouraging, consoling,
forgiving, accepting, & comforting.
We are free to choose
which way to live. We don’t – can’t –
earn it. It was God’s Plan for all
eternity. He came to Earth to teach us
in a real, human way to live in relationship with Him.
He gave us His Spirit
so we can remember how to choose His love & joy & security every
day. And His Spirit gives us the courage
and encouragement to turn back to Him when we wander off to the other side.
What
does all this have to do with the Woman at the Well?
She
went to the Well every day – it was an integral part of her life – and Jesus
was there in her ordinary life, just as He is with us every day. But until she
was ready and willing to listen to Him, He could do nothing for her. Jesus did not immediately sign her up for
catechism class. He did not take some of
the water from the Well to sprinkle on her.
Jesus merely helped her know that He knew her. Jesus accepted her. Jesus forgave her. He wanted, with all His Heart, for her to
follow Him!
Then,
in a perfect expression of His Great Commission, she went to her friends and
neighbors and did all she could to encourage them to come and meet Jesus. And
they came, out of curiosity at first for the change that had come over her. But
they soon heard the Lord speaking to their hearts, hearing Him in precisely the
way that they could understand, and they experienced metanoia. And Jesus agreed
to stay and offer them a “short course in His Way.”
Action
We
never hear of the Woman at the Well again, but I believe she is our spiritual
grandmother – she’s the first BABE CHICK! (My apologies to Mimi Fitzgerald) The
Woman of Sychar called her friends and then became their true and faithful
friend, and introduced her friends to Jesus!
Wow!
What a concept! Sounds like a great mantra for a new way of life after a Short
Course in Christianity?!
How
many people do you know who are standing knee-deep in water dying of thirst?
Our Father fills us with a constant supply of the sweet water of His Triune
Grace. Let us go, therefore, and Love disciples from all nations!
See you
at Mañanita! Share your water!
De
Colores!
[i] Jean Pierre de Caussade, Jesuit,
1675-1751, from “Abandonment to Divine Providence,” letters collected and
published after his death. – loosely translated & interpreted 3/9/20
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