Thursday for the First Week of Lent
For di Cross, one of di last things wey Jesus talk before He die na “Thirst dey catch Me.” As Saint Mother Teresa of Calcutta dey often point out, na your soul He dey thirst for. No doubt dey say this thirst for di salvation of every soul start inside Jesus human soul from di moment of di Incarnation. But na especially for di desert Jesus thirst as human being join with His divine desire to bring salvation to everybody.
When thirst dey catch us, our body dey tell us say e need water. Something dey missing wey need to enter di body again. As our Lord experience serious thirst for water inside His body for di desert, we fit dey sure say di thirst for His body na just one small human reminder to Him of His divine thirst for souls.
Try imagine Jesus as He allow Himself to feel thirst inside His body for di desert. Even though this thirst for His body no go end with His death for di desert, e go finally end with His death as thirst dey catch Him for di Cross. This spiritual thirst, wey di thirst for His body for di desert make even clearer to Him, come become di source of di strong drive behind His mission to save every soul.
Because Jesus thirst deep reach di spiritual level, e for give Him great joy say His human body experience this kind similar longing. Inside that thirst for His body, every human longing join with di spiritual longing to quench di thirst of everybody wey sin don leave dry.
Think deeply about this particular human experience of Jesus, as thirst catch Him for His body for di desert. As you dey do so, think deeply too about His spiritual thirst for your soul, wey greater pass am without limit. Every part of His nature as God, and every part of His nature as human being, dey long for you to quench His thirst. You dey quench Jesus thirst when you come to faith and allow Him give you di water of eternal life. He offer this gift of water wey dey refresh from di Cross, when His thirst reach di highest point. Think deeply about Him as He dey thirst for you, no be only for di desert, but also for that cry from di Cross. Quench His thirst by allowing Him to quench your own.
My Lord wey dey thirst, You no only allow Your divine spirit to long for di salvation of my soul, but You also allow Yourself to experience this thirst inside Your human body. I no fit ever thank You enough for how deep di love wey You get for me be. Dear Lord, I choose to quench Your thirst by allowing You to pour di waters of eternal life on my soul wey don dry. Jesus, na You I trust.
See also: Di Eighth Day: 40 Days for di Foot of di Cross