Saturday of the Fourth Week in Lent: Let Anyone Who is Thirsty, Come and Drink

Today's Scripture Readings

Jeremiah 11: 18-20 (NRSV)

It was the Lord who made it known to me, and I knew;
   then you showed me their evil deeds.
But I was like a gentle lamb
   led to the slaughter.
And I did not know it was against me
   that they devised schemes, saying,
‘Let us destroy the tree with its fruit,
   let us cut him off from the land of the living,
   so that his name will no longer be remembered!’
But you, O Lord of hosts, who judge righteously,
   who try the heart and the mind,
let me see your retribution upon them,
   for to you I have committed my cause.

John 7: 37-52 (NRSV)

On the last day of the festival, the great day, while Jesus was standing there, he cried out, ‘Let anyone who is thirsty come to me, and let the one who believes in me drink. As the scripture has said, “Out of the believer’s heart shall flow rivers of living water.” ’ Now he said this about the Spirit, which believers in him were to receive; for as yet there was no Spirit, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

When they heard these words, some in the crowd said, ‘This is really the prophet.’ Others said, ‘This is the Messiah.’ But some asked, ‘Surely the Messiah does not come from Galilee, does he? Has not the scripture said that the Messiah is descended from David and comes from Bethlehem, the village where David lived?’ So there was a division in the crowd because of him. Some of them wanted to arrest him, but no one laid hands on him.

Then the temple police went back to the chief priests and Pharisees, who asked them, ‘Why did you not arrest him?’ The police answered, ‘Never has anyone spoken like this!’ Then the Pharisees replied, ‘Surely you have not been deceived too, have you? Has any one of the authorities or of the Pharisees believed in him? But this crowd, which does not know the law—they are accursed.’ Nicodemus, who had gone to Jesus before, and who was one of them, asked, ‘Our law does not judge people without first giving them a hearing to find out what they are doing, does it?’ They replied, ‘Surely you are not also from Galilee, are you? Search and you will see that no prophet is to arise from Galilee.’ 

Blog Reflection

"Let anyone who is thirsty come to me, and let the one who believes in me drink. As the scripture has said, "Out of the believer's heart shall flow rivers of living water."

I get the feeling that Jesus' call for anyone who is thirsty to come to him, is a message for all of us who get tired and thirsty in the culture of debates and disagreements.  As controversies grow over the response to the Trayvon Martin murder and the racism that continues to be a part of our American story, people are thirsty for truth and peace.  The poor and disenfranchised, those without health insurance and the means to support themselves and their families, continue to be at the bottom of the priority list.  Our politicians and Presidential candidates are more concerned about votes and PAC money than they are with actually doing things to help the most vulnerable among us.   There is a thirst for justice, equality, inclusion and hope.

The Prophet Jeremiah was being pursued by those who wanted him dead.  He had been warning the people to not neglect God's commandments to love God, neighbor and self.  The people would just assume to get rid of the messenger than pay attention to the message.  When people's comfort zones become no longer cozy, they want to get rid of that new thing that threatens their sense of "everything is alright" in the midst of what is pure injustice and oppression of others in their communities.   Jeremiah is praying for God to show God's power by helping him with his enemies.

Jesus is confronting those who do not believe in him or the one who sent him.  Their comfort zones have been interrupted.  Things that are not familiar have come into their communities and disrupted things as they had always been.  When Jesus calls those who are thirsty to come to him, and those who believe to drink of the Goodness of God, he is calling on those who are looking for the Cup of Salvation by which they can approach God and receive God's grace and mercy.   Jesus wants the living waters of God that have flowed into the hearts of those who believe in him, to flow out in the form of social justice, works of mercy and hope for those who feel that all hope is lost.

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning and queer people, along with the marginalized in the Church and society, are among those who are thirsting for God.  They are wandering in the desert of uncertainty without a sense of direction, wondering what tomorrow or next year might bring.  The lives of the marginalized are not important to those seeking public office.  They are playing cards to see who can get ahead of who, with the most money and power to back up their work.  How many delegates a Candidate can get by promising to inflict more pain upon women, LGBT people, immigrants and those who can barely afford a one room apartment, is what really matters in the scheme of things.   Meanwhile, the marginalized and those affected by negative stereotyping and false information remain with parched mouths longing for the living waters of justice, compassion, inclusion and equality.

As Christians who are moving towards Good Friday, we know that sometimes evil wins.  It seemed on that terrible day that death and hell had won over even God incarnate, as Jesus bowed his head and died.  The mockery of the crowds, the screams of pain from the nails and the loss of blood overwhelmed us with sorrow and shame.  It appeared that all hope was gone. The one who was thirsty was given vinegar to drink.

Good Friday, however, was not the end of the story.  Death was not the victor.  It was through death that the new life of the resurrection in Jesus Christ was able to happen.  Evil and death did not have the last word.  New life and the justice of God's extravagant love triumphed over the powers of darkness and the gates of hell.  Christ had learned obedience through what he suffered, and by his becoming a slave and servant of all, God gave him the Name above all Names.  The humble had been exalted.  The one who was thirsty became the well spring from which new and life giving water would flow for all eternity.  The scapegoating found an ending to it's purpose.  Injustice and oppression had a renewed hope for the day when justice and freedom would be realized.  The day when truth became the end for all lies.  Sorrow and despair gave way to endless joy and celebration. 

In these last days of Lent, let our longing for Easter be what helps us keep going in our prayers, self-denial and acts of penance.  The thirst we experience during these days in the desert of uncertainty leading into the unknown, are opportunities for us to trust in God, who is our Cup of Salvation.  But, it is also the chance to allow the living waters of faith, hope and love to pour out from our hearts and lives, to give hope and possibility to others who thirst.


Prayers

Mercifully hear our prayers, O Lord, and spare all those who confess their sins to you; that those whose consciences are accused by sin may by your merciful pardon be absolved; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (Saturday of the Fourth Week in Lent.  Holy Women, Holy Men, Celebrating the Saints, p. 59).

Almighty and everlasting God, you hate nothing you have
made and forgive the sins of all who are penitent: Create and
make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily
lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness,
may obtain of you, the God of all mercy, perfect remission
and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives
and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever
and ever. Amen.  (Collect for Ash Wednesday, Book of Common Prayer, p. 217).


Almighty and most merciful God, we remember before you
all poor and neglected persons whom it would be easy for us
to forget: the homeless and the destitute, the old and the sick,
and all who have none to care for them. Help us to heal those
who are broken in body or spirit, and to turn their sorrow
into joy. Grant this, Father, for the love of your Son, who for
our sake became poor, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (Prayer for the Poor and Neglected, Book of Common Prayer, p. 826).


Look with pity, O heavenly Father, upon the people in this
land who live with injustice, terror, disease, and death as
their constant companions. Have mercy upon us. Help us to
eliminate our cruelty to these our neighbors. Strengthen those
who spend their lives establishing equal protection of the law
and equal opportunities for all. And grant that every one of
us may enjoy a fair portion of the riches of this land; through
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.  (Prayer for the Oppressed, Book of Common Prayer, p. 826).