Fishing boats on the beach in Liberia
“Later, knowing that everything had now been finished, and so that Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, ‘I am thirsty.’ A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips. When he had received the drink, Jesus said, ‘It is finished.’ With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.”
We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you,
because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world.
Just before he dies on the cross Jesus cries out that he is thirsty. We can hear him continue to say these words to us, through our brothers and sisters who each day must strive for enough water or enough food to eat. Through all those who thirst for a fairer world, where everyone has enough and is able to reach their full potential.
These last words of Jesus challenge us. They call us to see his face in all those who thirst for a fairer world and to stand alongside them raising our own voices for change. They invite us to make the connections between how we live as individuals and nations and the causes of hunger and poverty in our world.
Jesus dies with his arms outstretched on the cross, embracing all humanity. Do we allow ourselves to be caught up in this loving embrace? Having experienced this great love, how do we share it with others in our world?
Prayer
Jesus, you know what it’s like to feel alone,
lost and afraid, betrayed and abandoned.
Walk with us
and show us how to walk with others,
who live in fear and face death through hunger, thirst and conflict.
Show us how to pray for sisters and brothers that we have never met,
but who are always loved by you.
Amen.
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