On October 15, Archbishop Christian Lépine presided over a Mass at the Carmelite monastery to mark the feast of Saint Teresa of Jesus—known as Saint Teresa of Ávila. In his homily, the Archbishop of Montreal invited the faithful to reflect on their deepest thirst: a thirst for happiness, but also for God and eternal life.

A Thirst That Is a Gift from God

Drawing upon the encounter between Jesus and the Samaritan woman, Archbishop Lépine reminded the congregation that the desire for God does not arise solely from our own efforts. While we naturally aspire to happiness in our daily lives, the thirst for God and for eternal life is, above all, a gift of His grace. It is Christ who awakens within us this desire for a life that extends beyond our immediate horizon.

This thirst does not erase our human aspirations; rather, it gives them a deeper meaning. It transforms the way we live, love, and seek happiness, opening us to that which endures beyond our current circumstances.

Loving Beyond the Needs of the Moment

The Archbishop also invited reflection on the role of love in our lives. Loving is not merely about finding someone who meets our immediate needs; we are created for a love that endures—a love that exists within a horizon far greater than the present moment.

Reflecting on a young person’s quest for meaning—a desire to find a purpose that would sustain them throughout their entire life—Archbishop Lépine noted that such a profound aspiration can be a sign of a thirst for God, even when the individual is not yet able to name it as such. ## Embracing the Thirst for God

On the feast day of Saint Teresa of Avila—whose lifelong spiritual journey was defined by her quest for God—Archbishop Lépine encouraged the faithful to embrace this thirst and to give thanks for God’s gift. He also invited them to pray for the world, that the human pursuit of happiness might open hearts to eternal life.

For God does not merely awaken within us a desire to encounter Him; He, too, longs to reach out to us. Through Jesus’ words to the Samaritan woman, "Give me a drink," we see a God who comes to meet humanity, calling each person into a loving relationship with Him.