Ordinary Time 
Pause
Take a deep breath. Take another one. In this moment, God extends an invitation to you, yes, you! Get ready to respond to God’s invitation to quench your spiritual thirst. Get ready to drink.
Listen
I cry out to you from the depths, Lord—my Lord, listen to my voice! Let your ears pay close attention to my request for mercy! If you kept track of sins, Lord—my Lord, who would stand a chance? But forgiveness is with you—that’s why you are honored.
I hope, Lord. My whole being hopes, and I wait for God’s promise. My whole being waits for my Lord—more than the night watch waits for morning; yes, more than the night watch waits for morning!
Israel, wait for the Lord! Because faithful love is with the Lord; because great redemption is with our God!
Psalm 130:1-7
Think
Can you remember a time when you were thirsty? How did you feel in that moment? How did you relieve your thirst? It is most likely that you grabbed or were given a glass of water. The relief was probably instant, and it made you feel good and refreshed.
Now imagine that moment again, but this time, there is no glass of water easily available. How frustrated and desperate would you have been? In the reading from our psalm today, the writer, too, needs a drink, but not from a physical glass of water. The writer is thirsty for hope and redemption and, in desperation, calls out to God.
There are many who feel alone, hurt, and trapped and are thirsty for God’s love and redemption. You know them. They are your neighbors, schoolmates, workmates, friends, and strangers. Like you, they deserve a drink of God’s living water so they, too, can experience God’s steadfast love and power to set them free.
James Blay
Question to Ponder:
Today, who can you remind of God’s steadfast love and power to set free?
Pray
God of great love, may all those who thirst for your love and hope for your power to set free experience you in meaningful ways today. Help me be an agent of your hope and redemption in the things I say and do as I go about my day.
Amen.
Go
Go spread the word. All who are thirsty, all who are yearning for welcome and belonging, all who need to feel loved and experience grace, come to the fountain of Jesus and drink.
