People are Thirsty

Everyone is thirsty. Everyone is on an endless search for something that satisfies. We seek for more knowledge; we dive into higher education, and then a professional career. We also strive to accumulate riches. We engage in sports, music, and leisure. We organize social gatherings, nurture friendships, and so on. Each of these things is a kind of “water” that cannot quench our thirst. Every human being tastes this “water”, but is never satisfied. In fact, the more we drink this water, the thirstier we become. The words that Jesus spoke to a thirsty woman, mentioned in the Gospel of John, explain this experience: “Whoever drinks of this water will still be thirsty” (4:13). These words are simple, but their meaning is very profound. The “water” here symbolizes the enjoyment of material things and the happiness that the pleasures of the world give. These things cannot quench the thirst that we feel deep within us. In fact, the more that we “drink these things”, the more our thirst grows. Thus, we need another kind of water.