Come, Drink Living Water
By Larry McGuire of Gilbert, AZ, USA
Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.” The woman said to him, “Sir, you have no bucket, and the well is deep. Where do you get that living water? Are you greater than our ancestor Jacob, who gave us the well, and with his sons and his flocks drank from it?” Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but those who drink of the water that I will give them will never be thirsty. The water that I will give will become in them a spring of water gushing up to eternal life.” -John 4:10-14 NRSV
In the center of our town is a fountain surrounded by shops. Often, one will see people sitting on benches that surround the fountain chatting with others, some watching people walk by, while others wait in expectation for someone to arrive.
Every once in a while, someone tosses a coin or two into the water, and they pause to watch where the coin lands, probably offering a secret wish for something they want to come true. Once in a while, the fountain stops showering water because someone has had fun and poured liquid soap in the water, so it doesn’t spray water but rather thousands of bubbles. The pool of water and the fountain are taken over with bubbles!
Jesus asked a woman for a drink, and her response was practical: “Sir, you have not a bucket, and it’s a deep well. What do you want me to do to give you water?” Jesus replied to her question with a statement that if she only knew who was asking for a drink, she’d make sure he received one, and what he offered would take care of her thirst forever.
There are fountains in cities, towns, and villages around the world. Some of them provide nourishing water for life, some are for decoration, and some keep water from becoming stagnant so it can be used in more productive ways. Each one has an agitator to keep the water moving to keep the water alive. Jesus doesn’t say he’s the water; he says he knows what keeps it moving for life-the Holy Spirit-and it is available to move in everyone’s life.
We drink the living waters as we receive and respond to the movement of the Holy Spirit. Sometimes we sit and rest, sometimes we share with others around the water, and sometimes we celebrate the bubbles!
Prayer Phrase
God, may my deep hope align with your deep vision. Release in me anything that keeps me from freely following your Spirit. Amen.
Invitation to Spiritual Practice
Spiritual Freedom
Breathe deeply as you enter a time of silence. Become gently attentive to what may be restricting you from faithfully responding to the divine invitation in your life. Are there priorities, attachments, tasks, or motivations competing for your response? What does freedom for God look or feel like in you this day?
Today’s Prayer for Peace
Engage in a daily practice of praying for peace in our world. Click here to read today’s prayer and be part of this practice of peace.
