To the Ends of the Earth: Witness – Week 7, Day 3 – Living Water Is for All Who Thirst and Ask

Mark C. McCann | 03/12/2025

On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and proclaimed, “If any one thirst, let him come to me and drink. He who believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart shall flow rivers of living water.’”

John 7:37–38

Christ made this call on the eighth day of the Feast of Tabernacles, the day of a solemn ceremony which involved the pouring out of sacred water. This ritual contained layers of symbolism and pointed to the future outpouring of the Spirit of God upon the lives of the broken and the lost. Jesus stood up and called to the people to come and drink from the water of life. Through this invitation, he was fulfilling the Old Testament signs.

It is important for Catholic men to acknowledge our need for the living water that Christ brings to us through his sacrifice on the cross. We cannot let our pride, our selfish desires, or our independent spirits keep us from turning to the one who can fill the empty places in our hearts. If we fail to admit our dependence on Christ, our witness becomes worthless. Jesus longs to fill us with his grace, and as we allow his grace to flood into our hearts, it will spill over into everything we do.

Questions for reflection

In what ways are you spiritually thirsty? How has Christ filled your needs?

Why is it so important for each of us to acknowledge our need for this living water?

What areas of self-focus do you need to put aside so that you can accept Christ’s overflowing love and allow it to spill out into the lives of other men?

Praying with Scripture

With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. (Is 12:3).

You can learn more about the To the Ends of the Earth Series HERE

You can watch and listen to this devotion HERE

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About the Author

Mark C. McCann

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Mark C. McCann is an author and Ministry Consultant with more than 30 years of writing and ministry experience. He has published articles for a number of Catholic magazines and websites including St. Anthony Messenger, Emmanuel Magazine, Liguorian Magazine, Catholic Stand, the Connecticut Catholic Men's Conference, and Homiletic and Pastoral Review. He recently published the 4-volume Catholic men's devotional, To the Ends of the Earth, as well as the 2021 Advent Daybreaks devotional and 2022 Lenten Daybreaks devotional with Liguori Publishing. He has also released his End Times novel series, Jacob's Dream: The Vision and Jacob's Dream: The Final Battle. He was a radio host and producer for 8 years at a Connecticut Christian radio station and has worked as a Catholic religion teacher/campus minister and a parish youth minister. He has also served the Norwich, CT Diocese as a Youth Ministry Director and Family Life Director. He currently lives in Connecticut with his Proverbs 31 wife, where together they have brought up three incredible children. He strives each day to live out his call to be a man of words. You can learn more about Mark and his writing at www.wordsnvisions.com.