THE WORD IN LENT - Tuesday, 4th week in Lent
March 16, 2021: Ezekiel 47:1-3,9-12; John 5: 1-3a,5-16
We have a wonderful imagery today to ponder over: the flowing water that enlivens! Ezekiel speaks of it and John presents it; Ezekiel underlines the presence of the flowing water by the Temple while John points out the very presence of Christ as the life-giving spring!
For that man who had been waiting for years to get into that life-giving water,
the fact that Jesus approached him was like the waters came to him, instead of
he going to the waters. But it is not all that comfortable, when the waters
really flow! That is why Jesus asks him that question: do you want to be well
again?
We may think it is a dumb question to ask - but it matters! What if the man was
comfortable drawing pity from the others? What if the man gained much more than
what he could have with his limbs alright? Hence, the need for Jesus to ask
him, if he really wanted to be healed! It is our choice to be healed, to be
well, to be wholesome!
We may blame people around, the situation around, the events and experiences
and remain in self-pity! That will never lead us to wellness, health or
wholeness. If we really want to live our life to the full, we need to receive
the flowing grace willingly. It might require of us certain changes...which may
not be comfortable - the man was asked to pick up his mat and wall. All this
while people were carrying him around! Are we prepared for the inconveniences
of grace?
The Lord reaches out to us, flows into our lives to enliven us and Jesus
invites us to become the waters that enliven people around us, that we reach
out to others and flow into their lives, enlivening them!
Let us ask
ourselves, is our faith matured enough? How ready are we to flow on?