The stories about water in our readings today are refreshing on a number of different levels.
We know that water refreshes because it is one of the main ingredients of creation that needs replenishing. Plants, animals, mankind needs water to continue living.
We know that water was used in a powerful way by God in Old Testament times – to rescue his people from slavery in Egypt. The crossing of the parted Red Sea was a momentous event that is still held in memory today!
We know that water flowed from the rock when it was struck by Moses symbolizing all of the gifts that God desires to give his faithful people.
We know that Jesus changed water into wine demonstrating his power to change the Old Testament into the New Testament. The wine of the New Testament he would later transform into his blood for us and our salvation!
We know that water and blood flowed from the side of the pierced Christ on the Cross, thus giving birth and life to the Church and its sacramental gifts for our benefit.
Today in the first reading from the Prophet Ezekiel we read of water flowing from the temple in Ezekiel's dream. This is symbolic of the life of Christ that would flow through and from his Church for any who would believe.
In the gospel passage – Jesus cures a man at the Sheep Gate Pool – at the earthly temple in Jerusalem – demonstrating his compassion, his care, his desire to heal and his ability to bring it about. This is also a foreshadowing of the life of the Church that would flow from the sacraments at a later time.
The bottom line here is that "the Lord of hosts is with us; our stronghold is the God of Jacob." And so long as we have faith in him, trust in him and turn to him – he will gives us the waters of everlasting life – in a variety of ways – all the days of our life – and into eternal life!
No comments:
Post a Comment