“I thirst” (John 19: 29), was Jesus’ fifth word while on the Cross. But … what is this “thirst” Jesus sighs about? And … can we help satiate His thirst?
Jesus’ thirst is nothing like our thirst. His thirst is a desire for souls to love Him. And it is caused by a torrent of Love that is poured onto this world seeking souls to love Him. It is an insatiable thirst that is constantly and eternally longing for us to love Him back.
Jesus is a jealous lover and He wants us exclusively and entirely. He does not want to share us with anything that would interfere in His Love for us. And when He calls us, when He “thirsts” for us, He wants to be loved and served without any restrictions.
Mother Teresa of Calcutta explains Jesus’ thirst like this: “‘I thirst’ is something much deeper than just Jesus saying ‘I love you.’ Until you know deep inside that Jesus thirsts for you, you can’t begin to know who He wants to be for you … or who He wants you to be for Him.”
To quench His thirst, then, is the path to sainthood. You see … When you are called by God, the response should always be “YES”. Not an easy path, the path to sainthood. But not impossible. Many have pursued it. And it does become easier while trailing it.
As we learn to love this Perfect Lover that is Jesus, He will then use us as instruments for completing His work of redeeming the world (Col 1: 24). He will give us tasks that will churn our souls, testing our resolve, increasing our love, and carrying it to a higher level.
That is, when we respond loving Him back: saying “YES”, accepting and doing His Will, sometimes even sharing His agony on the Cross. In so doing, we are quenching His thirst.
Oh, my Love! Oh, my God and Lord! I wish to be that water that relieves Your parched spirit. I want to be balm that cools Your wounds. I want to be the refreshing drink that quenches Your throat. And in the company of Our Mother, the Blessed Virgin Mary, I want to love You above all else.
THE LAST SEVEN WORDS FROM THE CROSS - Series:
Third Word: "Jesus said to his mother: "Woman, this is your son." Then he said to the disciple: "This is your mother."
Fourth Word - "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me"
Fifth Word: "I Thirst"
Sixth Word: "It is finished"
Seventh Word: "Father, into Thy Hands I commend My Spirit"
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