Giving drink to the thirsty: biblical meaning of the second Work of Mercy

The Works of Mercy through the eyes of a biblist

We have chosen to publish every day a reflection on a specific Work of Mercy prepared by the biblist Carlo Miglietta. Reflecting on the works in preparation for the gathering organized by spazio + spadoni to be held in Lucca from July 17 to 28, 2023, which will see the participation of friends and volunteers from various parts of the world.

The days we will spend together aim to generate suitable tools for spreading the Works of Mercy throughout the world, starting from the places where spazio + spadoni already operates through the HIC SUM project.

The second Corporal Work of Mercy is “giving drink to the thirsty”

The biblist points out that whoever performs this work is like:

• God, who in the desert for Israel “brought forth water out of the rock when they were thirsty” (Neh 9:15,20); “When they were thirsty, they called upon thee, and water was given them out of the high rock, and their thirst was quenched out of the hard stone” (Wis 11:4); “They thirsted not in the desert, when he led them out; he brought forth water out of the rock for them; and he clove the rock, and the waters gushed out” (Isa 48:21); “They shall not hunger nor thirst, neither shall the heat nor the sun strike them; for he that hath mercy on them shall lead them, and at the fountains of waters he shall give them drink” (Isa 49:10). “All you that thirst, come to the waters; and you that have no money, make haste” (Isa 55:1); and to the blessed in the Kingdom he promises: “They shall no more hunger nor thirst, neither shall the sun fall on them, nor any heat… To him that thirsteth, I will give of the fountain of the water of life, freely… And he that thirsteth, let him come; and he that will, let him take the water of life, freely” (Rev 7:16; 21:6; 22:17).
• Jesus, who declares: “Whosoever drinketh of this water, shall thirst again; but he that shall drink of the water that I will give him, shall not thirst for ever” (Jn 4:1-30); “He that believeth in me shall never thirst” (Jn 6:35); “If any man thirst, let him come to me, and drink. He that believeth in me, as the scripture saith, «rivers of living water shall flow from within him». Now this he said of the Spirit which they should receive, who believed in him” (Jn 7:37-39). Jesus on the cross, before dying, said: “I thirst… and they put a sponge with vinegar about hyssop, and put it to his mouth” (Jn 19:28-29), fulfilling the Scripture which said: “In my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink” (Ps 68:22).
• Moses, who quenched the thirst of the daughters of Reuel, Priest of Midian: “He drew water for us and gave drink to the flock” (Ex 2:19); and who in the desert “brought forth water for Israel out of the rock and gave the community and their cattle drink” (Num 20:8).
• The Samaritan woman, who gave drink to Jesus when he was “wearied with his journey” (Jn 4:6-12).

The biblist also reminds us that whoever gives drink to the thirsty listens to the Word of God.

Below are some excerpts:

• Eliphaz the Temanite sees as a cause of Job’s sufferings that he “did not give water to the thirsty” (Job 22:7).
• “If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink” (Prov 25:21; Rom 12:20).
• “For whosoever shall give you to drink a cup of water in my name, because you belong to Christ, amen I say to you, he shall not lose his reward” (Mk 9:41).

The biblist leaves us at the conclusion of this work with a challenge, a question: do we know how to be “fishers of men” (Mk 1:17), recognizing those who give drink to the thirsty and announcing to them the beatitude of Mercy which states “Blessed are the merciful” (Mt 5:7)?

The tragedy of water scarcity

Access to safe drinking water is a fundamental human right because it determines survival. It is a common good that must be guaranteed to everyone without distinction. Pope Francis emphasizes this in the Encyclical Laudato si’, urging us to respect the planet and share resources with the poorest brothers and sisters. Millions of people live with the tragedy of water scarcity. Even today, they die because of this and from diseases related to the use of poor-quality water.

This work calls us not only to a more equitable distribution of goods and resources, but also to greater respect and protection of our rivers, lakes, seas, and oceans, which are part of our “common home.”

Photo by Magdalena Kula Manchee on Unsplash

Source: Carlo Miglietta – The Works of Mercy