Living Waters

On this Tuesday in the third week of Lent, the appointed Gospel reading for the Church’s Daily Prayer is taken from John:

 

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.’ (Jn. 7:37-52).

 

We all know someone who is looking for something in their lives. We may be those very people.  People thirst for meaning in their lives.  Jesus tells them: “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me, and let the one who believes in me drink.”  Only God can satisfy our truest and deepest desires.  Come to Jesus and let him refresh you and satisfy your thirst.

 

Let us pray:  Lord Jesus, you are the Living Water that satisfies our deepest thirst. Send your Holy Spirit to give us the grace to drink deeply from life giving water.  Amen.

 

CALENDAR REMINDERS

 

Wednesday, 11 March at 6 PM, the Rule of Life, starting with Stations of the Cross, Eucharist and a light meal with a presentation by KariAnn Lessner the new Families and Youth minister at Christ Church Cathedral.  For our St. Augustine family, please remember to bring a soup or salad to share,

 

Seaside Seniors on Thursday, 19 March at 11AM.

 

Please remember everyone on our Prayer List.

 

Your servant in Christ,

 

Fr. Chester J. Makowski+

St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church

Galveston, Texas 77550