In the gospel of Matthew, John the Baptist baptizes Jesus despite feeling that it is he, Matthew, who should be baptized by Jesus. Matthew chapter 3 says “As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him.” After Jesus was baptized, he was moved to go into the desert and spent 40 days and 40 nights there.
Imagine for yourself spending an entire Lenten season in a dry and desolate land, and you may understand something of what it is like to live in areas that do not have enough water.
I recently spoke to Father Kevin Johnson at St. Albans Episcopal Church in Arlington, and he shared with me his experience of drilling wells in third-world countries. He said that the people in those communities saw them almost as miracle workers because they provided the means to get clean water.
Each of us can help make a small miracle happen by donating money for a well. Please give to help Episcopal Relief and Development build wells. Place your donations in the copper water jug in the back of the church.
