Thirsting
MARCH 7TH, 2010 — THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT
EXODUS 17:3-7, THIRST (by Mary Oliver), JOHN 4:5-42
Dear Friends,
This week's Gospel recounts the story of Jesus interaction with the Samaritan woman at the well. The woman, ostracized by the other women in the village is alone at the well, and is guarded as she encounters Jesus. There is within her, a deep thirst, one that cannot be quenched at the village well. Jesus offers her "living water" with the promise that "those who drink the water I give them will never be thirsty again". The Samaritan woman 'receives' his gift and liberated from her shame, shares the 'good news' of Jesus with those in her village. The poet, Mary Oliver, offers a modern rendition of this thirst, one that we all experience in our lives:
Thirst
Another morning and I wake with thirst for the goodness I do not have
I walk out to the pond and all the way God has given us such beautiful lessons.
Oh Lord, I was never a quick scholar but sulked and hunched over my books past the hour and the bell;
grant me, in your mercy, a little more time.
Love for the earth and love for you are having such a long conversation in my heart.
Who knows what will finally happen or where I will be sent,
yet already I have given a great many things away,
expecting to be told to pack nothing,
except the prayers which,
with this thirst,
I am slowly learning.
I walk out to the pond and all the way God has given us such beautiful lessons.
Oh Lord, I was never a quick scholar but sulked and hunched over my books past the hour and the bell;
grant me, in your mercy, a little more time.
Love for the earth and love for you are having such a long conversation in my heart.
Who knows what will finally happen or where I will be sent,
yet already I have given a great many things away,
expecting to be told to pack nothing,
except the prayers which,
with this thirst,
I am slowly learning.
Mary Oliver
Are you thirsty? If so, we invite you to come and "draw water" with us during this sacred season of Lent. Join us for our Sunday Eucharist every Sunday at 5 p.m. Join us for 3 Friday night "movie" reflections on the power of Forgiveness. Join us for our Community Retreat on Saturday March 27 on The Merciful God. Join us in daily reflections during your own quiet time at home using the book, A Season for the Spirit: Readings for the Days of Lent by Martin L. Smith (or another prayer practice of your own choosing knowing that our community is praying, too, in a unison of hearts.) Just knowing that we are praying together is a source of strength and a joy for us!
If you are looking for reading for Lent, we'd like to suggest An Altar in the World: A Geography of Faith by Barbara Brown Taylor. It looks really good and we plan to read this in solidarity with our 'host community's' choice of this "geography of faith" for their Lenten reading.
As always, The Spirit of Life Community invites you to come and share in the experience of an inclusive Catholic community where every voice is heard, and women and men are unafraid to acknowledge the equality of women and men; and to embrace feminine as well as masculine... and beyond... images of God. As a community, we try wholeheartedly to "be Christ" to one another, to tend to the needs of one another, and to those in need in our world. Together, we celebrate our belief that we are being transformed by God's grace as we gather together in prayer. We warmly invite you to come and gather with us at our Table, and join in our experience of the "kin-dom" of God. We are an inclusive, open, affirming and interactive community, deeply committed to being a people of "justice and joy."
With prayers that your thirst will be quenched,
Find more about past weekly reflections and podcasts in our ARCHIVE PAGE.
