Page:Meditations For Every Day In The Year.djvu/424



I. "Jesus  being  wearied  with  His  journey,  sat  thus  on the  well." (John iv.  6.)  Like  a  good  shepherd  our  Lord travelled on  foot  seeking  for  His  lost  sheep,  and  among other corporal  miseries  admitted  weariness  and  thirst. But observe  with  what  patience  He  endured  them. He sat down  by  the  fountain,  foreseeing  what  would  happen, not so  much  to  rest  Himself  as  to  take  an  occasion  of benefiting  others. Thus the  Divine  "  wisdom  forerunneth  them  that  covet  her,  so  that  she  first  showeth  herself to  them." (Wis. vi.  14.)  How  often  has  she  attempted to  anticipate  you,  and  you  have  disregarded her!

II. While He  was  sitting  by  the  fountain,  a  woman came to  draw  water. Christ first  addresses  her  by  the words, "Give  Me  to  drink." She refuses,  and  asks; " How  dost  Thou,  being  a  Jew,  ask  of  me  to  drink?" Thus many  reject  Jesus  Christ,  when  He  moves  them  by His  interior  grace,  and  wishes  to  be  refreshed  by  their virtues. Christ, however,  did  not  desist  from  helping this sinner,  but  remarked,  "  If  thou  didst  know  the  gift of  God,  and  who  it  is  that  saith  to  thee,  '  give  Me  to drink,'  thou  perhaps  wouldst  have  asked  of  Him,  and  He would  have  given  thee  living  water." (John iv.  10.)

III. Consider the  excellence  of  this  living  water,  which is Divine  grace,  and  which  Christ  promises  to  His  faithful servants. " He  that  shall  drink  of  the  water  that I  will  give  him,  shall  not  thirst  forever." It quenches, therefore, forever,  the  thirst  of  the  soul,  and  satisfies  it. The soul  then  no  longer  thirsts  after  earthly  waters,  that