As we draw ever closer to Easter, the liturgy focuses our attention on the theme of living water, the living water that Jesus gives through the gift of the Holy Spirit.

The readings for this Third Sunday began with the story of the people of Israel wandering in the wilderness as they make their way to the Promised Land. During the course of their wanderings they grumble against Moses who has led the out of slavery, complaining that they have no water. Moses appeals to God, and the Lord instructs him to strike a rock with his staff. When Moses does this, water comes out of the rock. In his letter to the Corinthians, Paul tells us that this “rock” foreshadowed Christ who gives us living water the gift of the Spirit.

In the Gospel, we heard the wonderful story of the Samaritan woman at the well. The conversation between Jesus and the woman slowly reveals who Jesus is and the wondrous gift that he brings. It begins with Jesus asking the woman for something to drink, and it concludes with the woman asking Jesus to give her living water, water that will so deeply satisfy her that she will never be thirsty again. The living water that Jesus gives is the gift of God’s Spirit.

In the reading from St. Paul's letter to the Romans, Paul tells us that the love of God has been poured into our heats through the gift of the Spirit that has been given to us. God reconciled us to himself while we were still sinners by handing his own Son over for our sins.

What really satisfies us? Is there anything that truly satisfies us? Have you ever noticed how restless we are? We seek peace in all kinds of things, but we are never satisfied. We seek satisfaction in food and drink, in pleasure and sometimes in excess, and we are never satisfied. The great St. Augustine put it well when he wrote long ago: “Our hearts are restless, O Lord, and they will not rest until they rest in you.”

There is only One who can satisfy the deepest longing of our heart. There is only One who can fulfill all of our desires. There is only One who can calm our restless heart. We cannot, and we will not be satisfied until we rest in God. Until that time, we will always be restless, seeking the peace that continually eludes us, no matter how much we have.

Our deepest longing whether we know it or not is for God. Our deepest desire whether we know it or not is for God. How could it be otherwise since we are God’s creation. But we need not be restless because Christ is the one who gives us the living water that is God’s own Spirit. Drink deeply of this water in prayer. Drink deeply of this water in the Eucharist. Ask for this water, this living water, this gift of the Spirit, and you will be satisfied.