“I am thirsty!”
by Maritess Zamora Bungay
This statement of Jesus is the shortest yet overwhelming. It describes the expression of both His human and divine nature.
As humans we drink water to quench our thirst after some tiring activities. Jesus felt the same and even worse as He hung on the cross that He carried on the way to Calvary. He asked for a drink but He was given vinegar which added to His agony. I can't imagine how he was able to bear that much of a suffering after all that he's been through.
I realized that only Jesus can do that. To sacrifice and give his life for our sake. Jesus yearns to fulfill God's plan and His desire to draw all of us into the divine love that he embodies. He thirsts for our hearts, for our souls. He longs to quench the spiritual dryness in us, to hope in his love, grace and mercy.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, we come before you today as pilgrims of hope. Help us to lead our brothers and sisters to thirst for the living water that only you can provide. We pray for the nourishment in our souls that we may serve others, to bring them hope that only you can give. In this pilgrimage of life, hold us and take us to where we feel safe and unafraid of whatever we may encounter along the way. For we know that you are with us. Even in the darkest moments of our lives we were never alone. We put our trust in you. May we always hope and thirst for your unconditional love. Amen.
Maritess Zamora Bungay is a Junior HS Teacher (Values Education). She is a former member of Apostleship of Prayer-Youth & Tanghalang Anluwage in Saint Joseph Parish, Gagalangin, Tondo.