Living Water
"God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son, so that everyone who believes in him might have eternal life." - John 3:16
During this Lenten season, I prayed earnestly to deepen my relationship with God. There was a stirring within me, a longing to anchor myself more deeply and embrace something new in my spiritual journey. I poured out my heart to God, expressing my desire to encounter Jesus in a fresh and intimate new way, to create space for Lent to permeate my life more fully, and to fast in a manner that would nourish me with God's living water. As I reflected, it occurred to me that I had previously encountered The Chosen, albeit only making it through two episodes of the first season. And though I had glimpses of future episodes and felt intrigued, something always hindered me from continuing. Encouraged by a friend's suggestion to give the third episode another chance, I revisited the series. When Simon Peter fell to his knees and cried, "I am not worthy," I was enveloped in God's love and mercy. It marked the beginning of a Lenten practice, where I set aside time each day to suspend my thoughts and commune with Jesus.
At the heart of today's gospel lies a profound invitation to delve deeper. The Chosen allowed me to learn each disciple's stories, intricacies, and call to follow Jesus. Each interaction with the broken, marginalized, and lost moved me to a greater awareness of God's love and compassion for every one of us - a love that knows no bounds and embraces all who need healing and restoration. One question recurring throughout the series that stayed with me is, "Are you willing?" It grounded me in recognizing that belief is not merely an intellectual exercise but a journey of the heart. It demands us to surrender. It invites us to stand at the crossroads of belief, confronted with a choice - clinging to the safety of familiarity or taking one step closer towards faith. It asks, "Am I willing to allow God's words to penetrate the depths of my heart and transform my life?"
Lord, give me only Your love and Your grace, that is enough for me.
Tam Lontok