Living water
Water and liberation: ―Raise your staff
in Scripture and and stretch out your hand over the sea to
Catholic Social Teaching divide the water so that the Israelites can
go through the sea on dry ground.‖
(Exodus 14:16)
SCRIPTURE
You could use these Bible verses as a ―...and the Israelites went through the sea
stimulus for discussion or when
on dry ground, with a wall of water on
planning times of prayer or liturgy.
their right and on their left.‖
Explore the stories around these
passages. (Exodus 14:22)
―The water flowed back and covered the
Water and Creation: ―Now the earth was chariots and horsemen—the entire army of
formless and empty, darkness was over Pharaoh that had followed the Israelites
the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of into the sea. Not one of them survived.‖
God was hovering over the waters.‖ (Exodus 14:28)
(Genesis 1:2)
Water and thirst for God: ―As the deer
Water and the relationship between pants for streams of water, so my soul
God and people (covenant): ―He waited pants for you, my God.‖
seven more days and again sent out the (Psalm 42)
dove from the ark. When the dove
returned to him in the evening, there in its Water and joy: ―Joyfully you will draw
beak was a freshly plucked olive leaf! Then water from the springs of salvation.‖
Noah knew that the water had receded (Isaiah 12:3)
from the earth. He waited seven more
days and sent the dove out again, but this Water and the vision of life to come:
time it did not return to him.‖ ―Then will the lame leap like a deer, and
(Genesis 8:10-12) the mute tongue shout for joy. Water will
gush forth in the wilderness and streams in
the desert.‖
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(Isaiah 35:6)
―As soon as Jesus was baptised, he went
―I will make rivers flow on barren heights, up out of the water. At that moment
and springs within the valleys. I will turn heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit
the desert into pools of water, and the of God descending like a dove and
parched ground into springs.‖ alighting on him.‖
(Isaiah 41:18) (Matthew 3:16)
―For the Lamb at the centre of the throne Water and service: ―And if anyone gives
will be their shepherd; ‗he will lead them to even a cup of cold water to one of these
springs of living water. And God will wipe little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell
away every tear from their eyes.‘‖ you, that person will certainly not lose
(Revelation 7:17) their reward.‖
(Matthew 10:42)
Water and hardship: ―We must buy the
water we drink; our wood can be had only ―Then he turned toward the woman and
at a price.‖ said to Simon, ‗Do you see this woman? I
(Lamentations 5:4) came into your house. You did not give me
any water for my feet, but she wet my feet
Water and justice: ―Let justice flow like a with her tears and wiped them with her
river, and uprightness like a never-failing hair.‘‖
stream!‖ (Luke 7:44)
(Amos 5:24)
―After that, he poured water into a basin
―Let anyone who is thirsty come to me! and began to wash his disciples‘ feet,
Let anyone who believes in me come and drying them with the towel that was
drink! As scripture says, ‗From his heart wrapped around him.‖
shall flow streams of living water.‘‖ (John 13:5)
(John 7:37b-38)
Water and everlasting life: ―Jesus
Water, baptism and the Spirit: ―[John answered her, ‗If you knew the gift of God
the Baptist said] ‗I baptise you with water and who it is that asks you for a drink, you
for repentance. But after me comes one would have asked him and he would have
who is more powerful than I, whose given you living water.‘‖
sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will (John 4:10)
baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.‘‖
(Matthew 3:11)
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―Jesus said, ‗...but whoever drinks the belong to everyone. She must above all
water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, protect mankind from self-destruction.
the water I give them will become in them
a spring of water welling up to eternal Pope John XXIII, Pacem in Terris
life.‘‖ (Peace on earth), para. 64:
(John 4:14) The public administration must therefore
give considerable care and thought to the
ENCYCLICALS question of social as well as economic
Encyclicals are letters written by the progress, and to the development of
Pope on important topics. essential services in keeping with the
expansion of the productive system. Such
Pope Benedict XVI, Caritas in Veritate services include road-building,
(Charity in truth), para. 27: transportation, communications, drinking-
The right to food, like the right to water, water, housing, medical care, ample
has an important place within the pursuit facilities for the practice of religion, and
of other rights, beginning with the aids to recreation. The government must
fundamental right to life. It is therefore also see to the provision of insurance
necessary to cultivate a public conscience facilities, to obviate any likelihood of a
that considers food and access to water as citizen's being unable to maintain a decent
universal rights of all human beings, standard of living in the event of some
without distinction or discrimination. misfortune, or greatly increased family
responsibilities.
Pope Benedict XVI, Caritas in Veritate
(Charity in truth), para. 51: Pope John Paul II, Solicitudo Rei
Peace in and among peoples would also Socialis (The social concerns of the
provide greater protection for nature. The Church), III.14:
hoarding of resources, especially water, Looking at all the various sectors - the
can generate serious conflicts among the production and distribution of foodstuffs,
peoples involved. Peaceful agreement hygiene, health and housing, availability of
about the use of resources can protect drinking water, working conditions
nature and, at the same time, the well- (especially for women), life expectancy and
being of the societies concerned. other economic and social indicators - the
general picture is a disappointing one, both
The Church has a responsibility towards considered in itself and in relation to the
creation and she must assert this corresponding data of the more developed
responsibility in the public sphere. In so countries. The word "gap" returns
doing, she must defend not only earth, spontaneously to mind.
water and air as gifts of creation that
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to God's call
Pope John XXIII, Mater et Magistra and thus became a wellspring
(Mother and teacher), para. 127: of the goodness which flows forth from
In the first place, considerable thought him.
must be given, especially by public Show us Jesus. Lead us to him.
authorities, to the suitable development of Teach us to know and love him,
essential facilities in country areas—such so that we too can become
as roads; transportation; means of capable of true love
communication; drinking water; housing; and be fountains of living water
health services; elementary, technical and in the midst of a thirsting world.
professional education; religious and
recreational facilities; and the supply of Short intercessory prayer based on
modern installations and furnishings for Pope Benedict XVI’s prayer in Deus
the farm residence. Such services as these Caritas Est (God is love)
are necessary nowadays if a becoming God,
standard of living is to be maintained. In Help us to become fountains of living water
those country areas where they are in the midst of a thirsting world.
lacking, economic and social progress is Amen.
either prevented or greatly impeded, with
the result that nothing can be done to SYMBOLISM
retard the drift of population away from
In the Church, water is rich in
the land, and it even becomes difficult to symbolism. Here are some of the
make a good appraisal of the numbers times water is used, which your group
involved. might wish to explore.
PRAYER
Pope Benedict XVI finished his
encyclical Deus Caritas Est with a
EXPLORING SYMBOLISM:
prayer that you might want to
How is water used?
consider using when reflecting on
Why is water used?
water. A shorter version is also
What does it symbolise?
included.
How could you reflect on that aspect
of water in your everyday life?
Prayer at the end of Deus Caritas Est
(God is love)
Holy Mary, Mother of God, Baptism
you have given the world its true light,
Jesus, your Son – the Son of God.
You abandoned yourself completely
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Using holy water to make the sign
of the cross when you enter a
church
Blessing of the water with the
Paschal candle
During Mass, the priest dips his
fingers in some water as a symbol
of cleansing
A drop of water is poured into the
wine before it is blessed
Sprinkling the congregation with
holy water during special Masses
During a funeral, the coffin will be
sprinkled with holy water
WHAT NEXT?
These passages can be used on their
own or along with some of our other
water resources.
CHECK OUT:
Testing the water. Short water
activities that can be used as starters
or icebreakers. cafod.org.uk/lent
(CAF2285)
Making a model water filter.
cafod.org.uk/lent (CAF2282)
Will you wash my feet? Water liturgy
involving washing each other‘s feet.
cafod.org.uk/lent
cafod.org.uk/lent Lent Fast Day
resources
cafod.org.uk/thirst Thirst for change
water campaign resources
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