Tuesday, March 20, 2007

Tuesday of the Fourth Week of Lent


Tuesday of the Fourth Week of Lent

Readings for Tuesday of the Fourth Week of Lent[1][2]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible at Universalis

Commentary:

Reading 1
Ez 47:1-9, 12

In this vision from Ezekiel the allusion is made to one faith – the one stream flowing from the temple into the Kedron Valley which is normally a dry wash. The imagery used has been used in other places in scripture (Am 9 :13; Jl 3 :18; Zech 14:8; Ps 36:8--9; Rev 22:1) and probably represents the water flowing from the Garden of Eden first stopped by Original Sin, re-started with Moses striking the 12 stones in the desert during the Exodus and finally here in Jerusalem in the end times, the eschaton. The analogy is to one faith flowing into the world bringing life and well-being to any who partake.

Responsorial Psalm
Ps 46:2-3, 5-6, 8-9
R. The Lord of hosts is with us; our stronghold is the God of Jacob.

Psalm 46 is a hymn of praise. In this passage we see the analogy presented in the reading from Ezekiel referenced as the Lord is praised for supporting the people with his strength and creation.

Gospel
Jn 5:1-16

The Gospel from St. John is the third sign used in the Lord’s self-revelation. Jesus cures the paralytic by his word, something that could not be accomplished by the waters of Judaism. When Jesus first approached the paralytic he complained that he could not get to the waters “when they were stirred up”. This is taken from a belief at the time that, periodically, and angle of God would come down and stir up the waters of the pool and the first person to touch them in that state was cured.

It is explicitly mentioned that Jesus does this on the Sabbath which precipitates the controversy with the Jewish leadership. It is also noteworthy that Jesus does not say to the paralytic that his sin has caused his condition – he tells him “Look, you are well; do not sin any more, so that nothing worse may happen to you." This last reference is probably to final judgment.

Reflection:

As we move through scripture today we see Jesus revealed as the source of life and well-being. It is almost as if a picture were being painted. It starts with a rather abstract vision of all peoples being united in one faith with Ezekiel’s vision in the first reading. The twelve springs for the twelve tribes being united into one stream of life giving water flowing from the temple in Jerusalem. The prophet does not explain how that unity occurs but we do see the stream still flowing through the Psalm and we come then to the foreground – the pool at Bethesda.

Here, among all the sick people hoping to be cured by the healing waters that symbolize the waters of Judaism, is a paralytic – he has been waiting a long time to be brought to the waters. It is the Sabbath, the day of the Lord and Jesus comes to that place. He sees the paralytic man and asks him; “Do you want to be well?”

Then, the one who was last because of his infirmity became first in the eyes of God and was healed. And to emphasize that Jesus came to change how the Lord wanted to be served, he told the man to pick up his mat – something considered by the scribes and Pharisees to be work and therefore forbidden on the Sabbath. Like the first stones falling that become an avalanche, the Jews began to plot against the one who was Savior of the world, never knowing that they too were playing their role in God’s plan. Prophecy will be fulfilled.

For us we hear the story and, in our hearts, we are refreshed in our faith. We are reminded that it is through the one faith that we have life and health. It is our prayer today that our renewed faith will be seen as a continuation of that living water that flowed from His side as he hung upon the cross; the water that was poured out upon us at our Baptism, making us his sons and daughters.

Pax

[1] After 04/07
[2] The image presented today is “The Pool of Bethesda” by Joost Cornelisz Droochsloot, 1645

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