REFLECTIONS

Instiable Thirst

“I thirst,” Jesus agonized from the cross. His words were simple, and their meaning clear. Hanging on a cross, spikes driven through his hands and lips parched by the sun, any human would thirst. But Mother Teresa’s mind reached deeper.

She worked it overtime during that exhausting train ride. It helped her cope with the incessant click, click, click of the wheels beneath her and the passenger car’s relentless sway from unleveled track. Finally nearing the station, the train slowed to allow her first glimpse of the poverty stricken, and overpopulated place God called her to go. And maybe it was the picture of the people that moved her to hear again, “I thirst.” Only this time, she heard them differently.

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 [Jesus] went to [Simon] the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. When a woman who had lived a sinful life in that town learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume, and as she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.

When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is — that she is a sinner.”

Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet.   You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven — for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little.” (Luke 7:36-39, 44-47)

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Perhaps this story from Luke’s Gospel crossed Mother Teresa’s mind that day. Certainly, Jesus suffered from thirst on the cross. But his thirst for our love never ceases. That new meaning born into his simple words became her lifelong yearning to love Jesus more. And with each passing day, she did.

Few of us will receive a call to serve in a place like Mother Teresa. But no matter where the path of life takes us, we will find ourselves among people impoverished by an insatiable thirst for love. There, like Mother Teresa, our lives can become a river of Christ’s love for those who thirst for it.

And when we shine the light of Jesus’ love into the dark world, we also express our heartfelt love for our risen Lord.

“You are the light of the world,”

Richard +www.reflectingthesavior.org

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