Worldly life does not fully satisfy us.

WORD ALIVE

Many from our older generation might still remember the Hollywood rock-and-roll star Elvis Presley who went on to make dozens of gold records, sent millions of hysterical fans into ululations of delight, and grossed US$1 billion in earnings -- before he died at the young age of 42, in August, 1977. He died of an excess of drugs and junk food.

* * *

Modern psychiatry's files are loaded with cases of persons who have managed to acquire everything they thought they needed to make them happy, except peace of soul.

* * *

In this Third Sunday of Lent, Jesus encounters a Samaritan woman coming to the well to draw water. Jesus asks her for water to drink.

Then he went on, "If you knew the gift of God and who is saying to you 'Give me to drink," he would have given you living water" (Jn 4,10).

Jesus added, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again; but whoever drinks the water I shall give will never thirst" (Jn 4,13).

* * *

Jesus was talking about water of the Spirit that quenches human thirst that lasts to eternal life with God. Celebrities, like Elvis Presley, tried looking for that water but unfortunately, could not find it in worldly pleasures, fame, wealth, sex, and drugs.

* * *

Talking of Elvis Presley, did you know that his partner in many record-breaking movies was an attractive, talented actress, Dolores Hart, who turned her back on Hollywood for a higher calling? She now lives in solitude at the Benedictine Abbey of Regina Laudis in rural Connecticut, USA away from the glitter of the silver screen, where she spends her cloistered life in prayer and contemplation.

Once in a while she leaves the convent and gives inspirational talks about peace of soul and spiritual conversion.

* * *

I have known of certain professionals who, because they felt empty deep down, searching for something missing in their lives, opted to enter the religious life. One was a doctor, a gynecologist, who became a priest. "Perhaps you did it," I kidded, "because you ran out of clients since you're a male!" He laughed, "No, it's...