On the southern shores of Lake Huron, the search is for rocks and not shells. In the water, the rocks look unique and diverse in colours. They are beautiful. As the rocks dry, they lose much of their uniqueness. The hues begin to look similar. The water makes them come alive with vibrancy.
For me, this is a reminder of the waters of baptism. We are called in the waters of baptism to live into our uniqueness as one diverse body of Christ for the sake of a world in need. The water makes the rocks colourful. The baptismal waters encourage us to live into the church’s vividness.
In this Isaiah text, the exiles are returning home to a place unknown to them. Their generation has only known the land of their exile. Their return brings the upheaval of being uprooted from what they’ve known. Yet the homeland of their ancestors is a place of hope and promise where God sets a banquet feast before them. All will be fed. All with thrive. The thirst will be quenched.
No matter where we are in life or on our journey of faith, coming back to the waters of baptism makes us aware of our thirst, which God will quench.
Vibrant God, we thirst for you. Bring us to the waters so that we may drink and live. Amen. —