Share the Water (Sunday homily, 1st Scrutiny)

Turn on the TV, or go online,
And you’ll hear how “dehydrated” we’re supposed to be.

Go to Ulbrichs, see how many brands of water!
So much water;
yet we have to push ourselves to drink enough of it.

If this be true with ordinary water;
How the Living Water the Gospel describes?
Are we getting enough of that Water?

The woman at the well asks,
“Where do I get this Water?”

Our Lord said: “The water I shall give
will become in you
a spring of water welling up to eternal life."

Jesus wants us to be fountains of God’s Spirit,
Welling up to eternal life!

This gift we receive in baptism.
That’s when each of us becomes
a geyser of the Water of Life.

In our midst is someone anticipating the day
he will receive this gift—
a gift the rest of us might take for granted.

At the Great Vigil of Easter, Holy Saturday night,
he will be baptized.

Many of you have not been part of the Vigil Mass.
Yes, I know it takes longer, and it’s late.
Still, I really encourage you to come.
Here’s a practical reason—
we won’t have standing-room only
as we will on Easter Sunday!

But a better reason is to participate in
the most important celebration of our Faith.
Many say they wish they knew their faith better.
I promise you, if you participate in Holy Thursday,
Good Friday and the Great Vigil of Easter,
it will open up lots of meaning for you.

All the Water—I mean the Holy Spirit—
that the Lord gives us, is not just for us.
The Gift is for us to share.

How about giving a cool cup of mercy to someone today?
When rage and anger break out,
How about pouring his Water on those fires?

We have plenty—share the Water!

Sometimes it is as simple as an actual cup of cold water.

Too many people all over the world,
and right here in Piqua, lack the basics:
clean water, clean clothes,
work, food, health care, a home.

The causes of poverty aren’t that mysterious:
broken families, drugs and addiction;
young people dropping out of school,
having families before they are ready.

Some of our neighborhoods are facing these problems.
If we’re safe from them,
the Spirit nonetheless compels us to go back
and make a difference.

Our schoolchildren are participating in the Rice Bowl,
to help feed the hungry.
Many here help St. Vincent de Paul, and Bethany Center.

We also make sure our business and political leaders understand
we want them to address root causes:
to be truly compassionate to the mentally ill—
not just dump them on the street.

We insist our political leaders
feel the urgency to create jobs.
To take bold action to improve our economy.

You and I are called to share the Water of Life.
How many today are drinking from polluted wells:
the Internet brings pollution into so many homes.
Many seek solace in a bottle, or a pill, or their jobs,
rather than their family.

The commercials tell us we are dehydrated;
so many around us are spiritually dehydrated!

You and I have plenty of Water to share
with thirsty people all around us!

It’s easy: invite someone to the Stations of the Cross,
or a Bible Study.
Let them know our all-night chapel
is open to absolutely everyone.

If we don’t know how to share the Water,
Just ask the Holy Spirit inside you how to do it.

In our journey, we come each week to Mass.
We come to the Rock who pours out the Water.
The Eucharist is Jesus,
The Source of that pure and abundant Water.

Ask him for the Water;
Ask the Spirit inside you to well up and flow freely.
Christ calls us to share the Water.
He’ll know how to make it happen.