Come, Drink

Do you get the feeling there is a theme in this week’s readings? Sunday: Jesus offers the Samaritan woman living water. Monday: Rebekah offers Abraham’s servant refreshing water. Today: Jesus tells the people of Jerusalem, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me.”

Jesus is teaching in the temple, where he offers up his teachings and his own way of living as a model for disciples and for all of Israel. His way is not the traditional way of the Pharisees, clinging to the detailed rules of cleanliness, diet, Sabbath and proper worship-rules that built walls of separation between Jew and Gentile, rich and poor, sinner and righteous, while at the same time ignoring the purpose of the law, its very essence: doing justice, loving kindness, walking humbly with God. Jesus pointed out to the people that if they truly understood the law and wanted to keep it, they would listen to Jesus as a messenger from God and would follow him and his teachings. In this way they would be blessed by the spirit and their hearts would be flowing with “living water,” ready to engage in acts of justice, kindness and love.

God, make my heart flow with living water so that I may be a blessing to many. Amen. — PDH