Water Which Issues From The Temple

 

Jesus also shows that He is the help of the helpless. 

Reflection on Today’s Readings, Tuesday of 4th Week of Lent B, March 12th, 2024
Texts: Ezekiel 47:1-9.12; Psalm 46:2-3,5-6,8-9; John 5:1-16 

Today we learned about water which issues from the Temple. The water is water of baptism. The water has healing power and gives life to living creatures. We read, “and when it enters the stagnant waters of the sea, the water will become fresh. And wherever the river goes every living creature which swarms will live, and there will be very many fish; for this water goes there, that the waters of the sea may become fresh; so everything will live where the river goes.” 

The water does not just make us alive, it also makes us productive and fruitful. We read “And on the banks, on both sides of the river, there will grow all kinds of trees for food.” The water makes us blessings to humanity and useful to God. The Water produces in us unfailing goodness and virtue because it comes from God. We read, “Their leaves will not wither nor their fruit fail, but they will bear fresh fruit every month, because the water for them flows from the sanctuary.”

He is the help of the helpless

The gospel reading also tells us about water that heals. He speaks of the water thus: “Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, in Hebrew called Bethzatha, which has five porticoes. In these lay a multitude of invalids, blind, lame, paralyzed.” Jesus Christ shows that he has come to fulfil the purpose of the pool by healing the sick man. The man had been ill for thirty-eight years. By healing the man Jesus also shows that He is the help of the helpless.  

Prayer  

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