Thirst

Thirst

When I did intermittent fasting, one of the things that stood out to me was how we could take control of our hunger and thirst. It’s easy to mistake our cravings for hunger, or hunger for thirst. There are times when we think we want snacks, but what our body really needs is just water.

We could be on autopilot that we fail to pay attention to what we are actually experiencing. Imagine that: our “feelings” could at times be illusions. Without attempting to discern, we could fool ourselves.

When Jesus said “I thirst”, I wonder what He thought about? Is it bodily thirst, having suffered for so long? Is it more the feeling of thirst after doing something very fulfilling, like how an athlete seeks to drink water after strenuous training? At that point, the thirst is pure and not about cravings, indulgences, or greed.

The next time we feel thirsty for something, be it food, drinks, or even power, we should examine ourselves: are we really thirsty? Would we deserve what we thirst for? Or are we just indulging to our cravings, greedily devouring anything without care?


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John 19:25-34. “I thirst. ”

[DAILY GOSPEL INSIGHTS AND REFLECTION FOR MANAGEMENT AND ORGANIZATION 157: JUNE 6, 2022]