Today’s readings focus on the life-giving nature of water.  First God gives the Israelites in the desert a spring to drink from.  Then Jesus offers the Samaritan woman by the well a spring of living water – the gift of the Holy Spirit.  In a hot climate water is always welcome but often involves hard work to raise it from a well or to transport in jars.  How much more welcome is the clear cold water from a spring!  “This is the gift of the Holy Spirit, who transforms Christians into 'true worshippers,' capable of praying to the Father 'in spirit and truth' (John 4:23). Only this water can extinguish our thirst for goodness, truth and beauty! Only this water, given to us by the Son, can irrigate the deserts of our restless and unsatisfied soul, until it 'finds rest in God,' as per the famous words of St. Augustine", Pope Benedict XVI.