'I Thirst': A Reflection on the Sacred Heart of Jesus that Thirsts for Souls Attributed to Mother Teresa

I Thirst for You.

(A meditation attributed to St. Mother Teresa, read by Fr. John Riccardo on "Christ is the Answer"). "Behold, I stand at the door and knock ..." (Revelation 3:20)

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. I await even the smallest sign of your response, even the least whispered invitation that will allow Me to enter.

And I want you to know that whenever you invite Me, I do come - always, without fail. Silent and unseen I come, but with infinite power and love, and bringing the many gifts of My Spirit. I come with My mercy, with My desire to forgive and heal you, and with a love for you beyond your comprehension - a love every bit as great as the love I have received from the Father ("As much as the Father has loved me, I have loved you.."[Jn. 15:10]). I come- longing to console you and give you strength, to lift you up and bind all your wounds. I bring you My light, to dispel your darkness and all your doubts. I come with My power, that I might carry you and all of your burdens; with My grace, to touch your heart and transform you're life; and My peace I give to still your soul. As I said of old to the Prophet Samuel, I behold not the countenance or the stature of a man nor do I judge as men judge for I "behold the heart" (I Kings 16:7) and I know well, all the secrets of thy heart (Ps. 43:22).

I know you through and through (Ps. 7:10) - I know everything about you. The very hairs of your head I have numbered (Matt 10:30). Nothing in your life is unimportant to Me. I have followed you through the years, and I have always loved you - even in your wanderings. I know ever one of your problems. I know your needs and your worries. And yes, I know all your sins. But I tell you again that I love you - not for what you have or haven't done - I love you for you, for the beauty and dignity My Father gave you by creating you in His own image. It is a dignity you have often forgotten, a beauty you have tarnished by sin. But I love you as you are, and I have shed My Blood to win you back. If you only ask Me with faith, My grace will touch all that needs changing in your life; and I will give you the strength to free yourself from sin and all its destructive power.

I know what is in you heart (Jn 2:25)- I know your loneliness and all your hurts and weaknesses - the rejections, the judgments, the humiliations. I carried it all before you. And I carried it all for you, so you might share My strength and victory. I know especially your need for love - how you are thirsting to be loved and cherished. But how often have you thirsted in vain, by seeking that love selfishly, striving to fill the emptiness inside you with passing pleasures - with the even greater emptiness of sin. Do you thirst for love? "Come to Me all you who thirst..."(Jn. 7:37). I will satisfy you and fill you. Do you thirst to be cherished? I cherish you more than you can imagine - to the point of dying on a cross for you, for no greater love does a man have than to lay down his life for his friends (Jn 15:13).

I thirst for you. Yes, that is the only way to even begin to describe My love for you: I THIRST FOR YOU.  I desire that I should come with my Father and make our abode with you (Jn 14:23). I thirst to love you and to be loved by you - that is how precious you are to Me. I have loved you with an everlasting love, therefore have I drawn you, taking pity on you (Jer 31:3). I THIRST FOR YOU. Come to Me, and I will fill your heart and heal your wounds. I will make you a new creation, and give you peace, even in all your trials. I THIRST FOR YOU. You must never doubt My mercy (Ps. 33:19). Turn to my mercy, and even if your sins be as scarlet, they shall be made as white as snow: and if they be red as crimson, they shall be white as wool (Isias 1:18).   Ask me every day to enter and take charge of your life - and I will. I promise you before My Father in heaven that I will work miracles in your life. Why would I do this: Because I THIRST FOR YOU. All I ask of you is that you entrust yourself to Me completely.  Fear not and "give me thy heart, and let thy eyes keep my ways" (Prov 23:26).  I will do the rest.

As the Father hath loved me, I also have loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you shall abide in my love. These things I say to you, that my joy may be in you, and your joy may be filled. (Jn 15:9). Even now I behold the place My Father has prepared for you in My Kingdom. Remember that you are a pilgrim in this life, on a journey home. Sin can never satisfy you, or bring the peace you seek. All that you have sought outside of Me has only left you more empty, so do not cling to the things of this life. Above all, do not run from Me when you fall. Come to Me without delay. When you give Me your sins, your give Me the joy of being your Savior. There is nothing I cannot forgive and heal; so come now, and unburden your soul. You are precious in my sight (Isias 43:4).

No matter how far you may wander, no matter how often you forget Me, no matter how many crosses you may bear in this life; there is one thing I want you to always remember, one thing that will never change: I THIRST FOR YOU - just as you are. You don't need to change to believe in My love, for it will be your belief in My love that will change you. You forget Me, and yet I am seeking you every moment of the day - standing at the door of your heart, and knocking. Do you find this hard to believe? Then look at the cross, look at My Heart that was pierced for you. Have you not understood My cross? Then listen again to the words I spoke there - for they tell you clearly why I endured all this for you: "I THIRST..."(Jn. 19:28). Yes, I thirst for you - as the rest of the psalm verse I was praying says of Me: "I looked for love, and found none..."(Ps. 69:20). All your life I have been looking for your love- I have never stopped seeking to love you and be loved by you. You have tried many other things in your search for happiness; why not try opening you heart to Me, right now, more than you ever have before.

Whenever you do open the door of your heart, whenever you come close enough, you will hear Me say to you again and again, not in mere human words but in spirit: "No matter what you have done, I love you for you're own sake. Come to Me with your misery and your sins, with your troubles and needs, and with all your longing to be loved. A contrite and humbled heart, I will not despise (Ps. 50:9). Turn to me and I will turn to you (Zach 1:4).

You shall call upon me, and you shall pray to me, and I will hear you.You shall seek me, and shall find me: when you shall seek me with all your heart. (Jer 29:12). I stand at the door of your heart and knock...Open to Me, for I THIRST FOR YOU..."