WORKS OF MERCY - QUENCH
Did you know that Jesus’ first miracle involved giving drink to the thirsty? At the wedding of Cana, Jesus transformed over a hundred gallons of water into sweet wine to satisfy His friends’ wedding guests. This may have seemed like an insignificant cause, but in reality it was a great example and act of mercy for us and His disciples at the time.
John 2:11 tells us: “Jesus did this as the beginning of His signs in Cana in Galilee and so revealed His glory, and His disciples began to believe in Him.”
Jesus was not only giving physical drink to His friends, but He was also helping to answer their doubts about His identity and mission. This is something that He would have to do again and again throughout Scripture. One famous example is found when He shows His wounds to the apostle, Thomas, after the Resurrection. Even after witnessing that great miracle, all the way up until the point of Jesus’ Ascension, we are told that the disciples “worshiped, but they doubted” (Matthew 28:17).
Every human heart longs for God. Psalm 42:2-3 describes this longing: “As the deer longs for streams of water, so my soul longs for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, the living God.” (Psalm 42:2-3). But every human heart also faces temptations of faith, at some point and to some degree. It is important to know that wrestling with doubt about God is never a sin in and of itself. Many of the saints also went through great seasons of doubt when it came to God and eternity. The key to not being consumed by doubt was their perseverance and trust. The saints all made a conscious effort to continue believing even when their belief was not rewarded by immediate signs and consolation.
Hebrews 11 tells us: “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” And Jesus assures us in Matthew 17 that our faith only needs to be the “size of a mustard seed” in order for it to be effective. It is more than possible for someone to believe in God but still struggle with feeling like their faith is perfect. We can pray like the father of the boy who was possessed by an unclean spirit in Mark 9: “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”
These important truths about the nature of faith and doubt are important to understand if we want to practice the works of mercy. We need to be honest and not discouraged about our own doubts before we can help others.
How can we then practice the works of mercy that are specifically Giving Drink to the Thirsty and Counseling the Doubtful?
Some ideas include:
Be conscious stewards of our water sources and avoid being wasteful.
Support charity organizations and missions that help to bring clean drinking water to those in need.
Donate or serve beverages for a soup kitchen, food pantry, or ministry event.
Offer a glass of water to a guest who visits your home, including maintenance workers or delivery drivers.
Invite and treat a friend to coffee. Some of the best conversations happen over a shared cup of coffee, so you can also practice the spiritual works of mercy if your conversation moves toward spiritual depths.
If a friend confides in you about spiritual doubts, be consoling and do not make them feel ashamed for having doubts.
Listen to another’s struggles first, and then give advice or instruction if it is appropriate. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you discern the right approach.
Seek and refer others to spiritual direction and the sacraments.
To protect against despair in times of doubt, practice gratitude and help to remind others about all of the ways God has shown His faithfulness in their life.
Jesus reminds us just as He did the Samaritan woman at the well: “Whoever drinks the water I shall give will never thirst; the water I shall give will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life” (John 4:14). Let’s encourage each other to draw life from Jesus and share this life with others, even when it is difficult!