Jesus: Help of the Helpless

 Reflection on Today’s Readings, 4th Week of Lent, Tuesday 29th March, 2022 Texts: Ezekiel 47:1-9.12; Psalm 46:2.3.5-6.8-9; John 5:1-16 

The man who was healed by Jesus Christ, in today’s gospel reading, is an example of those people who are in dire need of help but find none. We may ask the question: Why was he the only one that Jesus healed among the multitude of invalids, blind, lame, paralysed lay there? It was because he was helpless. St. John, the author of the gospel, may not give direct answer to the question but it is clear in the man's words he quoted: “Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is troubled, and while I am going another steps down before me.” The concern of St. John was his helpless state; the fact that he had no one to help him. He does not tell us whether the man was lame or paralysed because his concern was his helpless state; he had no one to help him. He did not quote those words to show that the man had no faith or else the healing would have not occurred; he quoted them to show that he was without help. If he had no faith in Jesus Christ he would have not obeyed his command: “Rise, take up your pallet, and walk.” His faith was expressed in his obedience. Faith is perfected in obedience. 

Today, once again the message comes to us: It is in obedience to the words of God that we can transform our lives. Unless we live according to what the words tell us, we will always remain the same.  The message, today, is that God comes to the help of the helpless. God has not abandoned you if you need help and you have not found it now. St. John mentions to us the number of years the man spent there to teach us perseverance and patience. The man spent 38 years at the pool before Jesus came to his help.  38 years was a long time but he finally got help. We have to persevere in good deeds; we have to persevere in seeking to change every bad condition of our lives. Let us not give up in our efforts to put an end to vices in our lives. Sometimes it seems impossible for us to stop the vices, let not give up; at His own time, He will come to our aid. 

The man also reminds us of many of our brothers and sisters who are in dire need of help to be better but see no help from us. They may be around us but we will not see them because helping them is not our concern. The man was just abandoned there like someone thrown into the world with no tie to any one; no brother, no sister, no cousin, no uncle, no aunt, no friend. His situation was worse than that of Job;  Job still had friends to console him. Let us be brother to one another. He who is in need of our help is our brother. He who is willing to help is also a brother. When we are brother to one another, we are Christ to one another. He has shown it, today, that he is the help of the helpless; he is our brother.  

Today’s first reading tells us of a river which water comes from right side of the temple. The water of the river brings freshness to stagnant waters; it brings life, fruitfulness and productivity to living creatures. The Temple becomes a source of renewal, revival, fruitfulness, productivity and all kinds of goodness. The word of God is associated with the Temple, for Isaiah says, “Many nations will come and say, ‘Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the temple of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths.’ The law will go out from Zion, the word of the Lord from Jerusalem”. Prayer and sacrifice are also associated with the Temple. The water, therefore, reminds us of the word of God, prayer and sacrifice; when they are part of our lives, we will be full of life, productive, be fruitful, renewed and filled with goodness. Life is transformed with the word of God, prayer and sacrifice. 

The water also reminds us of sacraments by which life is sanctified and God glorified. St. John reminds us, in today’s gospel reading, that Jesus Christ is the temple from which the water of salvation comes. The faith in Jesus Christ makes our prayer efficacious and sacrifice acceptable; and He is the Word of God. He once tells us thus: “Very truly, I tell you, if you ask anything of the Father in my name, he will give it you. Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive so that your joy may be complete” (John 16: 23-24).            

May the venerable exercises of holy devotion shape the hearts of your faithful, O Lord, to welcome worthily the Paschal Mystery and proclaim the praises of your salvation. Amen. (Collect). 

Fr. Andrew Olowomuke