Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

 The people of Israel thirst. The Samaritan woman thirsts.  We thirst.  And Our Lord thirsts.                  Without quenching these thirsts it leads to weakness, fatigue and even death.  The Sacred Scriptures today remind us that thirst must be slacked on two levels: the physical and the spiritual.

      The panic that comes upon the people in Exodus is legitimate but there is something lacking in their desire.  They have forgotten the providence of the One Who led them out of slavery.  They forgot the Source of water itself.  They wasted their energies on complaint rather than calling upon the Holy Name to care for their needs.  They wagged a finger at God rather than kneeling in humility and asking for His help.  They felt entitled.  They lacked trust.  The spiritual element of their needs was completely overshadowed by their ego.  They did not thirst for God.

       The parched soul of the Samaritan woman was brought on by shame, self hatred, fear of being in human company thus causing her to die a slow and painful spiritual death.  Feelings of worthlessness will do that.  All of that changed when she came expecting to come to the well water and instead encountering the Living Water Christ the Lord.  His thirst for her soul quenched her beyond imaging.  And so He thirsts for us.  It begins, of course, with our Baptism and continues throughout the course of our earthly journey.  We come, and often should, to the Well of Reconciliation where we too encounter the Living Water of restoration and refreshment.  Physically, how energized we feel after a bath or shower, ready to take on the world. Spiritually, how we feel after going to Confession, ready to take up the cross anew and follow Him.

     Get quenched.  Avail yourself to the many opportunities to make a good Confession during Lent and revivify your drooping spirit.   He is thirsting for you.

With Blessings,

Father Langan