FIRST READING
Ezekiel 47:1-9, 12
The angel brought me, Ezekiel, back to the entrance of the temple of the LORD, and I saw water flowing out from beneath the threshold of the temple toward the east, for the façade of the temple was toward the east; the water flowed down from the right side of the temple, south of the altar. He led me outside by the north gate, and around to the outer gate facing the east, where I saw water trickling from the right side. Then when he had walked off to the east with a measuring cord in his hand, he measured off a thousand cubits and had me wade through the water, which was ankle-deep. He measured off another thousand and once more had me wade through the water, which was now knee-deep. Again he measured off a thousand and had me wade; the water was up to my waist. Once more he measured off a thousand, but there was now a river through which I could not wade; for the water had risen so high it had become a river that could not be crossed except by swimming. He asked me, “Have you seen this, son of man?” Then he brought me to the bank of the river, where he had me sit. Along the bank of the river I saw very many trees on both sides. He said to me, “This water flows into the eastern district down upon the Arabah, and empties into the sea, the salt waters, which it makes fresh. Wherever the river flows, every sort of living creature that can multiply shall live, and there shall be abundant fish, for wherever this water comes the sea shall be made fresh. Along both banks of the river, fruit trees of every kind shall grow; their leaves shall not fade, nor their fruit fail. Every month they shall bear fresh fruit, for they shall be watered by the flow from the sanctuary. Their fruit shall serve for food, and their leaves for medicine.”
RESPONSORIAL PSALM
Psalm 46:2-3, 5-6, 8-9
R. (8) The Lord of hosts is with us; our stronghold is the God of Jacob.
God is our refuge and our strength, an ever-present help in distress. Therefore we fear not, though the earth be shaken and mountains plunge into the depths of the sea.
R. The Lord of hosts is with us; our stronghold is the God of Jacob.
There is a stream whose runlets gladden the city of God, the holy dwelling of the Most High. God is in its midst; it shall not be disturbed; God will help it at the break of dawn.
R. The Lord of hosts is with us; our stronghold is the God of Jacob.
The LORD of hosts is with us; our stronghold is the God of Jacob. Come! behold the deeds of the LORD, the astounding things he has wrought on earth.
R. The Lord of hosts is with us; our stronghold is the God of Jacob.
VERSE BEFORE THE GOSPEL
Psalm 51:12a, 14a
A clean heart create for me, O God; give me back the joy of your salvation.
GOSPEL
John 5:1-16
There was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now there is in Jerusalem at the Sheep Gate a pool called in Hebrew Bethesda, with five porticoes. In these lay a large number of ill, blind, lame, and crippled. One man was there who had been ill for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had been ill for a long time, he said to him, “Do you want to be well?” The sick man answered him, “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; while I am on my way, someone else gets down there before me.” Jesus said to him, “Rise, take up your mat, and walk.” Immediately the man became well, took up his mat, and walked.
Now that day was a sabbath. So the Jews said to the man who was cured, “It is the sabbath, and it is not lawful for you to carry your mat.” He answered them, “The man who made me well told me, ‘Take up your mat and walk.’“ They asked him, “Who is the man who told you, ‘Take it up and walk’?” The man who was healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had slipped away, since there was a crowd there. After this Jesus found him in the temple area and said to him, “Look, you are well; do not sin any more, so that nothing worse may happen to you.” The man went and told the Jews that Jesus was the one who had made him well. Therefore, the Jews began to persecute Jesus because he did this on a sabbath.
Reflections:
Do you want to grow in holiness and be like Christ?
Ezekiel prophesies that a “river of life” will flow from God’s throne in
the Temple. This water will transform everything it touches, bringing life,
healing, and restoration. Jesus offers himself as the source of this living
water which he will pour out upon his disciples in the gift of the Holy
Spirit. The signs and miracles which Jesus performed manifest the power
and presence of God’s kingdom and they demonstrate the love and mercy God
has for his people. In the pool at Bethzatha we see an individual’s helplessness
overcome by God’s mercy and power. On this occasion Jesus singles out an
incurable invalid, helpless and hopeless for almost forty years.
He awakens hope when he puts a probing question to the man, “Do you really
want to be healed?” And he then orders him to “get up and walk!”
God wants to free us from the power of sin and make us whole. But he
will not force our hand against our will. The first essential step towards
growth and healing is the desire for change. If we are content to stay
as we are, then no amount of coaxing will change us. The Lord manifests
his power and saving grace towards those who desire transformation of life
in Christ. The Lord approaches each of us with the same probing question:
“Do you really want to be changed, to be set free from the power of sin,
and to be transformed in my holiness?”
“Lord Jesus, put within my heart a burning desire to be changed and
transformed in your holiness. Let your Holy Spirit change my heart and
renew me in your love and righteousness.
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