Water, water everywhere! Our earth’s surface is over 70 percent water and our bodies are 60 percent water. We can survive without food much longer than we can last without water. If you stop and think about it, water was the first thing to appear on earth. I was once learned that water is mentioned almost 700 times in the Bible, more than faith or prayer or worship!
The theme of water permeates the Scriptures. Think of Noah and the flood, Moses striking the rock and Ezekiel’s visions. Remember the stories of the woman at the well and the leper by the pool. Through all of these stories and more, God is showing us that his life is like water for us.
Have you ever noticed that our spiritual and liturgical lives involve a lot of water? In Baptism we were cleansed by water and at our funeral, our bodies are sprinkled with holy water. We dip our fingers in the font and bless ourselves every time we come in and out of church. Try to count how many times we use water at Mass and in our rituals. How many times have you had Holy Water sprinkled upon you?
Spend some time in prayer thinking about the physical and spiritual importance of water. Thank God for the gift of life-giving water!
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Sister Lisa Maurer
Sister Lisa Maurer was born and raised in Sleep Eye, Minnesota. Before entering the Monastery in 2007, she taught and coached in Catholic Schools within the New Ulm Diocese. Sister Lisa Made her Perpetual Monastic Profession in July ll, 2012. Her first ministry as a Benedictine Sister was working at the parishes of St. Lawrence and St. Joseph in Duluth. Currently she is Director of Mission Integration for the Benedictine Health System.