Tuesday of Fourth Week in Lent, March 20,2007

Scripture: Ezek. 47:1-9,12. Psalm 46:2-6,8-9 John 5:1-3,5-16.
Lectionary # 246

Water is one of the greatest gifts that we have and is the source of life
both physical and spiritual. John the Baptist used water as a sign of
repentance and renewal and the Church initiates us into the sacramental
life with our Baptism by water whether through immersion or pouring the
water over our head with the names of the Most Holy Trinity. Today's
reading from Ezekiel as well as the Psalm and the Gospel have water as one
of their themes. The imaginative prophet Ezekiel tells us of the waters
flowing on all sides in the Temple and then down to the desert and the Dead
Sea. Wherever it flows there is life. Even Ezekiel has to swim in order
to realize the impact of the symbol and reality of water in the Temple.
The last book of the New Testament, the book of Revelation will take up
this image as well. Wherever this water is life occurs. I was really
struck by the image of Ezekiel and found it to be helpful for my
reflections on the Gospel. It led me to appreciate the fact that Jesus
healed the man who could not put himself into the water of the miraculous
pool, nor was he helped by anyone there; only Jesus brough healing and
salvation to him. He was cleansed of his sins and was able to walk. Jesus
is the source of our life and gave his own life till water and blood flowed
from his side--signs and symbols for the sacrament of Baptism and for the
Eucharist. Today I am led to think of the new members who will be
received into the Church through Baptism on the Easter Vigil. They are in
the process of carefully preparing for this through the help of catechists
and pastoral ministers and priests. Both of the sacraments are intimately
and essentially connected to the meaning of Lent and the days of Holy Week.
Amen.