I Thirst

6/2/2018

Step #1: Lectio / Read

Click the link below or open your Bible to the passage and read through the reading at least once, paying attention to what is happening in the text.

Psalms 63:2, 3-4, 5-6

Step #2: Meditatio / Meditate

Use the following meditation to help you reflect more deeply on the Scripture (you may want to read the passage again).

The spring time comes with great renewal – there are new members in the Body of Christ, there is an excitement with many being Confirmed and sealed in the gifts of the Holy Spirit, and hopefully there’s been a deeper connection with God. Yet, as time goes on we get busy again. We begin to feel tired, drained, and a little more distant from God.

Today’s Psalm speaks to the very core of this tiredness. We are always thirsting for something more, we are always searching for that which will make the tiredness go away. There are many things I go to when I am tired, Netflix, Netflix, and Netflix just to name a few, but what usually always happens is my longing is still there. I am not satisfied. Sure, in the four hours of binge watching 'Lost in Space' I am immersed and entertained, but as the days go on and the weeks go on I still thirst for something more (...than just season 2).

I can imagine King David, the author of this Psalm, felt the same way. As he expends all his time and energy into building up the Kingdom of Israel, he pauses to reflect on this continual ache he has in his heart – ‘why am I not satisfied with it all.’ From this reflection flows a beautiful song – my soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God!

That’s it! I know its simple, but that’s why my ache seems a little more tiring, a little more exhausting, a little more restless, because I’m not satisfying it from the right source. I love the way David compares the dryness of his soul to that of parched land. This is such a beautiful imagine, but one that needs a little more context. Living in a dry desert climate I have come to learn that scorched crackling land does not easily take in water because it is too stiff and hard. In order for the land to receive all of the water it must be broken, crumbled, and plowed.

This is what God wants to do with each of us. He wants to take our dryness, our thirst, our longing and fill us with His cool, refreshing living water, but first He must break up the hardness so that our thirsty soul can be satisfied and filled up.

So where do we go from here? If you have access to an adoration chapel, a Church, or even a quite place in your home go and spend time with God. How does David satisfy this thirst? He sits before God and gazes towards Him in the sanctuary. That’s it. Sometimes we can make prayer more complicated than it needs to be. Sometimes we get discouraged because we feel like we need to fill the time with structured talking or get frustrated with ourselves for getting too distracted. Practice this – Sit and gaze towards Him and let His presence fill you, let His living water quench your thirst, and let His love satisfy your tired heart.

Step #3: Oratio / Pray

These questions are to be used to talk to God; have a conversation with the Lord about these questions and what is going on in your heart as you pray today.

What are some things you run to when you are tired or need to be refreshed, instead of running to the Lord?

Do you ever have this kind of thirst that David is speaking about in the Psalm today? Why do you think that is?

How can you learn to pray more like David?

Step #4: Contemplatio / Contemplate

In this step, you listen. Stop talking, let God speak to your heart. You may repeat one of these short phrases to focus your mind on the Lord.

"Here I am Lord."

"My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God."

"Come Holy Spirit."

Step #5: Actio / Act

In light of today's reading and your time spent in prayer with the Lord, what concrete action or actions will you take to let this encounter with the Lord bear fruit in you today?

Pray. Sit before the Lord today and let Him love you and quench the thirst in your heart.

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The following image is here for you to save and use as a background or lock screen on your smartphone or device to help you carry today's Lectio Divina with you the rest of the day.

Today's prayer was prepared by Mike Monette, a theology teacher at JSerra Catholic High School in Orange County, CA.

If you have anything you'd like our team to pray for, please go to the page of our website called "Prayers" and let us know how we can pray for you today.

CARPE VERBUM