Thirst as an image for prayer, as seen on TV

062714Scripture often uses thirst as an image for prayer and desire for God. And thus we read passages such as these:

Oh, God you are my God, for you I long; for you my soul is thirsting … My body pines for you like a dry weary land without water ... (Psalm 63:1-2).

Like the deer that longs for running streams, so my soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God? (Psalm 42:2)

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled (Mat 5:6).

On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them” (Jn 7:37-38).

Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water” (Jn 4:10).

And there are many others besides those.

Thus thirst is a symbol for prayer and longing. And so when I see the commercial below, I know that although the guy says “Stay thirsty, my friend!” to make me want to buy beer, what he REALLY means to say is, “Get in touch with your longing for God and pray often, my friend!”

And so I say to you: “Stay thirsty, my friend!”

4 Replies to “Thirst as an image for prayer, as seen on TV”

  1. You missed the mark on this one Father I think. My thirst for prayer is only releaved with a humble heart to our Lord. And I can’t say I would compare my prayer life to the video of the sporting nature shown in the video.
    Praying for your continued reflections

    Michael

  2. If this is what inspires one’s heart to lift to the Lord, so be it. For me, more inspiration comes from the water images Teresa of Avila used to inspire her novices to lift their thirsty hearts to the Lord. But the world we
    live in knows little of her or those images. Thus I guess to find inspiration in a beer commercial is to be blessed
    in a way.. Thanks, Monsignor for reminding us to seek God’s presence in all and wherever we can find it.

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