Shortly after he arrived at my parish, our Transitional Deacon Daniel Stump gave this beautiful homily about the crucifixion at daily Mass.

“Jesus said, ‘I thirst.’ This quick line from today’s gospel is a bit curious. Is Jesus speaking literally? Does he need a drink? That is how the soldiers interpret his words as they soak a sponge in vinegar and put it up to his mouth. 

Or do these words have a deeper meaning? Mother Theresa heard these words ‘I thirst’ powerfully spoken by Jesus and wrote a beautiful reflection on them which I will share a few words with you now, so that you may hear Jesus speaking these words to you today. 

‘I thirst for you. It is true. I stand at the door of your heart, day and night. Even when you are not listening, even when you doubt it could be Me, I am there: waiting for even the smallest signal of your response, even the smallest suggestion of an invitation that will permit Me to enter. I want you to know that each time you invite Me, I do come always, without fail. Silent and invisible I come, yet with a power and a love most infinite, bringing many gifts of My Spirit. I come with My mercy, with my desire to forgive and heal you, with a love for you that goes beyond your comprehension. I thirst.’ 

Whenever you hear these words, especially now that we are entering the warmer months of summer, be reminded of God’s love. His thirst is for you. So often in our prayer we are asking God for things. We are taking him our problems and seeking his help to fix them. These are good prayers, and they give him great joy. Today, however, let us take Mary as our model at the foot of the cross. In your prayer today, take a moment to reflect on ways that we can bring comfort to Christ. He thirsts. How can we help to ease that pain? What can we do today to console him?”

When I saw Deacon Dan the next day, I told him I was a little upset with him. Astonished he said, “Why?” I guess he thought I was something he did. But I was actually upset because I lost sleep that night. I was so moved by his homily that I knew I had to write another book, grabbed my phone from my bedside, and put the outline together for my upcoming book, title of course, I Thirst.

Recently I’ve become even more frantic because I think this has opened the door to even more books. You may recall Jesus’ seven last words from the cross. In case you don’t recall these “words” they are:

1. “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.”

2. “This day you will be with Me in Paradise.”

3. “Woman, behold your son, Son, behold your mother.”

4. “My God, My God, why have you forsaken Me?”

5. “I thirst.”

6. “It is finished.”

7. “Father, into Your hands I commend My spirit.”

              As I write this book, focused on the fifth in these sacred words, I find myself inspired to deal with the other six words. I guess that means another book is in the making. So, I may turn this into a series. 

             In case you ever wondered how the mind of a writer operates, this is an insight into how one writer is influenced by the Holy Spirit. I plan to publish I Thirst this spring, so watch for it!