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Lenten Weekday
Ezekiel 47:1-9, 12
Psalm 46:2-3, 5-6, 8-9
John 5:1-16
Summary
The nurturance of God˅s Word and the Purification of the Spirit are symbolized as ˈliving waterˉ
throughout today˅s readings. Ezekiel describes a magnificent vision where water flows from the
temple of the LORD and provides life to ˈevery sort of living creatureˉ, and life to every sort of
vegetation. The Psalmist describes ˈa stream whose runlets gladden the city of Godˉ. Finally, a
man who has been lame for thirty-eight years waits for healing alongside the Bethesda pool.
Reflection
Throughout the Bible, water is a frequently cited symbol. Ubiquitously, it represents the nurturing
and healing power of God˅s Word.
Jesus used water as a powerful metaphor describing the spiritual life He offers. Think of the
woman at the well in Samaria to whom Jesus offered "living waterˉ, to her He said,
ˈIf you knew the gift of God and who is saying to you, ˄Give me a drink,˅ you would have
asked him and he would have given you living wate
r
...whoever drinks the water I shall give
will never thirst; the water I shall give will become in him a spring of water welling up to
eternal life.ˉ
(John 4: 10 &14)
Are we thirsty for God˅s healing Word? Do
we thirst for its spiritual nurturance and ap-
preciate its healing powers in our daily
lives?
In Jerusalem, near an ancient pool called
Bethesda, Jesus encounters a man that
was seeking healing. This man was lame for
thirty-eight years. Imagine that for a mo-
ment. What were we, or our loved ones,
doing thirty eight years ago? For me, I was
about to be born. When I think about what
has transpired during those years̀
childhood, adolescence, college, career
transitions, grad school, marriage, children
̀ I cannot believe it represents my entire
life. That is how long this man laid desper-
ately by Bethesda waiting to be healed by
the pool˅s ˈhealingˉ power.