"I am thirsty"
It is no surprising that Jesus would speak of thirst from his Cross. But we should also try to understand what he is thinking when he utters these words to us. St. Thomas Aquinas answers our inquiry simply: these words are Jesus' "ardent desire for the salvation of the human race." Jesus is saying to you that his thirst is far beyond a bodily need. His thirst is for your soul, my soul. In his dying moments he teaches us that the the pain and suffering have a singular purpose -- to bring all of us to the Father not in a broken order but healed, repaired, returned to the order of God's plan for all of us and all humankind.
Jesus calls out his thirst to each created human being to turn from the broken order created by sin. God created us in and for goodness but sin in so many ways has damaged us. Fr. Cisserio points out that even in dying Jesus continues to be the good shepherd who "lays down his life for his sheep" (Jn 10:11). During the trying moments of his passion he continues his efforts to tend the flock entrusted to him by his Father.
And what do his words now speak to each of of us individually. His call for thirst relief is another eternal invitation to turn away from what causes his suffering, his thirst. His love for us is his asking that we come back to the Father with a loving heart, a heart freed form the bonds of one's own sinfulness. This is a very personal moment in the passion for each of us. He is speaking to you now.
For an instant his words, "I am thirsty," speak volumes about the damage sine has caused in our world. Today we might well hear these words as the result of speciif sins. I am thirsty because so many lives have been scarified on the table of abortion; so many lives have become wrecks on the rocks of immorality; so many lives have been injured by the arrows of vicious tongues, so many lives have been tainted by the commerce of greed; and so many lives and families have been ruined by addiction to drugs, alcohol, racial hatred and pornography. And these are just a few of the causes of Jesus' thirst in our world today.
Is it a surprise the these words of Jesus are so significant in our society? Do not consider abandoning whatever sin or sins bring you to feel so personally Jesus' thirst cry. Rather pray for the grace to be holy and free from sin.
Jesus calls out his thirst to each created human being to turn from the broken order created by sin. God created us in and for goodness but sin in so many ways has damaged us. Fr. Cisserio points out that even in dying Jesus continues to be the good shepherd who "lays down his life for his sheep" (Jn 10:11). During the trying moments of his passion he continues his efforts to tend the flock entrusted to him by his Father.
And what do his words now speak to each of of us individually. His call for thirst relief is another eternal invitation to turn away from what causes his suffering, his thirst. His love for us is his asking that we come back to the Father with a loving heart, a heart freed form the bonds of one's own sinfulness. This is a very personal moment in the passion for each of us. He is speaking to you now.
For an instant his words, "I am thirsty," speak volumes about the damage sine has caused in our world. Today we might well hear these words as the result of speciif sins. I am thirsty because so many lives have been scarified on the table of abortion; so many lives have become wrecks on the rocks of immorality; so many lives have been injured by the arrows of vicious tongues, so many lives have been tainted by the commerce of greed; and so many lives and families have been ruined by addiction to drugs, alcohol, racial hatred and pornography. And these are just a few of the causes of Jesus' thirst in our world today.
Is it a surprise the these words of Jesus are so significant in our society? Do not consider abandoning whatever sin or sins bring you to feel so personally Jesus' thirst cry. Rather pray for the grace to be holy and free from sin.
He is thirsting for your love.
