The Second Sunday after Pentecost

The Edwards Aquifer

For me there are several components that typically go into sermon writing. It’s part reading and academic research, part prayer and listening to the Holy Spirit and part free association. The free association part is important. That’s where the Scriptures for the week intersect with what’s going on in my life or in the world around us.

That intersection of God’s living word with our daily lives can be and should be a part of every Christian’s experience. It only happens, of course, if you’re living with the Scriptures. I urge you, if you don’t already, to take on some sort of discipline of daily Bible reading. Use Forward Day-by-Day or some other daily devotional or use the Daily Office lectionary in the Book of Common Prayer.

 For me this week, free association led me to consider the connection between the Collect appointed for this Sunday and the Edwards aquifer. On the way downtown to the diocesan confirmation service I was reading an article in the Nature Conservancy magazine about the Edwards aquifer.

The Edwards aquifer is a highly permeable limestone formation that serves as the primary source of water for much of central Texas. It’s important for that reason alone, but it is also interesting because it is also the source of many springs and artesian wells. The particular geologic configuration of the Edwards aquifer means that it is the source for water that flows freely of its own power up to the surface of the earth.

In today’s collect we speak of God as the source from whom all good doth come. Or, in the Rite 2 language, the source from whom all good proceeds. I think also of the beloved hymn where we praise God from whom all blessings flow. Jesus, in John’s Gospel, speaks of himself as being living water.

Springs and artesian wells, like those that originate from the Edwards aquifer, flow to the earth’s surface under their own pressure. They do not have to be pumped; they just bubble and spring up on their own, providing life-sustaining water.

God’s goodness, God’s blessings are like that. They flow into our lives under their own pressure or power. The force of God’s love generates blessing and goodness that flow freely into the world. We do not have to dig for them, pump them, grab them or seize them. They are simply given to us like a natural spring flowing freely.

 The analogy with the Edwards aquifer is not perfect. It can be polluted or its effectiveness limited by human intervention. God, as a source of blessing, on the other hand, is truly infinite and illimitable.

 These springs of God’s love could go by many names: goodness, blessing, living water. Whatever you call this goodness that flows from God, it is what we desperately need to really live.

It’s guidance to think and do what is right. Guidance and direction that comes from beyond our own needs and wants. And the strength and will to pursue that guidance.

 It is a reservoir of hope and love when the world is dark or full of despair.

It’s connection to a higher purpose, the invitation to participate in the establishment of God’s kingdom.

The springs of God’s blessing and goodness provide access to renewal and reconciliation.

They bring not only blessings, but the awareness of blessing. The springs of God’s love enable us to feel gratitude for God’s gifts.

And the gift of peace. The peace which surpasses all human understanding. Gods peace which overcomes fear and anxiety.

The free flowing springs of God’s goodness and blessing provide all these things to us.

So where do we find these springs of God?

God is, indeed, present everywhere. It’s possible to encounter God or to find God’s goodness in all sorts of places. And it’s possible, maybe, even come across a real bubbling spring of living water at home or doing something that brings you joy.

But there are sure and certain places, too, where we are absolutely assured of finding God’s goodness and blessing bubbling up, given for us, to us. “Sure and certain.” That’s language of the sacraments. And participation in the sacraments of the church is one sure and certain place where God’s blessings bubble up into our lives. The words of the Bible are another. Our common prayer is another reliable, never-failing spring of goodness and blessing.

Bring your deep thirst, your great need, here and you will find the life-giving springs of God’s goodness and blessing.