“I thirst”, the famous phrase of Bl. Mother Teresa of Calcutta, is imprinted in all the chapels of her society of Sisters, at the left side of the crucifix. Two words give such a powerful message.
Here in Haiti I pray daily at the Missionaries of Charity chapel, and as I contemplate those two words, Christ just starts talking, every time is different, though the same: I thirst for souls, I thirst for your love, I thirst for compassion, I thirst for friendship, I thirst for listeners, I thirst for adorers, I thirst for open hearts, I thirst for generous hearts, I thirst for fearless hearts, I thirst for merciful hearts, and the list goes on and on. As I said, all messages are different but at the same time the same, the bottom line is: I THIRST FOR YOU!
The question then arises: Am I willing to satisfy His thirst?” Am I willing to leave everything behind to quench that thirst? Am I willing to take the risk, to accept contradictions, humiliations, to go against the current, to be called radical, am I willing to put it all on the front line to satisfy His Thirst?
In just a few days we will be living one of the biggest mysteries of all times, one of the most overwhelming mysteries of our faith: The Birth of Christ. Often confused as a commercial time, we must remember it’s Christ time!
So, let’s take the time in this novena before Christmas Day to answer that plea that Christ is launching out to each one of us from that Cross: I THIRST!
