I Thirst

I Thirst

   The saintly Mother Teresa of Calcutta in her private office and residence area had a crucifix of Christ hanging from her wall. Underneath the crucifix of Christ dying on the cross were the words: “I Thirst”. “I Thirst” was one of the seven utterances from the cross of Good Friday, the day of crucifixion. Mother Teresa used the image of Christ thirsting for water as her call to give water to the poorest of the poor in Christ’s Holy Name.

   The suffering servant manifested in the Son of God can be palpably felt in the contemplation of a thirsting Savior. Thirst is one of the most physical signs of our humanity. The Son of the Trinity of God crying out for water is actually His call to us to quench the physical and spiritual thirst of a dying world.

   What better way to absorb the events of Good Friday than to translate the thirst of Christ by our offering a cool cup of water to those that hurt around us? The offer of water may be giving food to our local food bank. It could be telling the story of Christ to children who have never heard of Jesus. It could take the form of raising money for the drilling of wells in faraway villages where people are dying from waterborne disease. It may be solemn prayer for the hardhearted of the world who will not humble themselves to acknowledge their spiritual emptiness.

   Earlier in His earthly ministry Christ encountered a woman at the well who was drawing water; Christ told the woman that He possessed living water. He offered her this water that if she drank, she would never thirst again. This water is the water of baptism and salvation through the simple act of trusting and accepting Christ’s offer of eternal connection.

   Good Friday is always a day of ranging emotions. It is partly shared agony as we contemplate the sacrifice and suffering of God’s Son; but it also gives way to comfort and celebration in knowing that the obedience and yielding of Christ to God’s plan for man opens salvation to us all.

   The thirst of Christ is not only our point of reflection for this day, but our eternal call to action.