The first chairperson of the Global Water Partnership, Mr Serageldin commented, ‘If the wars of this century were fought over oil, the wars of the next century will be fought over water…’ The UN Secretary General, Mr Ban Ki-moon cautioned, ‘A shortage of water resources could spell increased conflicts in the future. Population growth will make the problem worse. So will climate change. As the global economy grows, so will its thirst...’
Recently, another news reported that within a decade, Sanaa Yemen could become the first waterless capital in the world. Some districts have no supply at all and others have taps that stop every 20 days. As a result, hundreds of private drillers suck out water from already depleting wells and sell them in water tankers and jerry cans! Such is the looming water crisis some are facing.
On the third Sunday of Lent, the Gospel on the Samaritan woman at the well (John 4) is also pointing to the water matter but something even more dear - the living water. Jesus was traveling through Samaria and sat down by a well. Then, a Samaritan woman came by to draw water and Jesus said to her, ‘Give me a drink’ (John 4:8). Subsequently, Jesus and the woman began to talk about water, especially living water. Jesus implied that anyone who drinks of the water He provides, one ‘will turn into a spring inside him, welling up to eternal life’ (John 4:14). Jesus has come to save what was lost, no matter who we are. He loves us so much that He shed His blood for each and everyone. Jesus’ request for a drink is not just physical thirst but His love and thirst for the salvation of all men. Essential to life, a person's survival depends on drinking water; similarly, the grace of Christ plays an important role for a person’s spiritual life. The water that can truly quench man's thirst does not come from any well; it is Christ's grace – the ‘living water’ that provides eternal life.
Grace converted the Samaritan woman. She left her pitcher behind and returned to the town to tell people about her finding. Looking back our Journey of Faith, we are like that woman. We learn of Christ through the Church, we come to Him and understand Him. Day by day, we believe him more firmly that He is the Savior of the world and begin to evangelize.
Though the water on some parts of this Earth may be depleting but Christ’s grace – the source of living water is still plentiful. While I was holding on to the beautiful piece of Apostles’ Creed that we’ve received during the 1st Scrutiny, tears of joy began to well up in my eyes as we’ve found the source of living water that no money can buy.
When we say a silent prayer for the unfortunate ones who are living in troubled waters or those who need water to quench their physical thirst, let us not forget to also pray for those who need or still searching for the living water to quench their spiritual thirst.
written by Y.C. Tan
28 March, The Apostles
