Today's lessons are awash with references to water as giving life and
spiritual healing.
Who cannot identify all their memories of water in their life: For
me, it's the marbled green-gray waves and whitecaps of the Atlantic
off the coast of NH in a run-up to a hurricane; skating at Mill Pond
where the fresh water crosses over the falls into the salt water of the
Great Bay; and “taking the waters at Saratoga and at Vichy”; Omaha
Beach the Atlantic Ocean at Bethany Beach. Water is the travelogue
of my life. Water tells all the stories of the joy in my life.
So when Ezekiel tells a compelling story about the water that flows
from the temple, I'm listening.
The man whose appearance was like bronze measured one thousand
cubits in increments – as it it progressed from ankle-deep to knee
-deep, to waist-deep, to deep enough to swim in, a river that could
not be crossed. [A cubit is approximately 1, 500
feet or 450 meters.] The water goes down into the Arabah and makes the stagnant water fresh wherever it goes. The trees on both
sides of the river bear fresh fruit every month. The water that flows
from the temple has fertilizing effects because the water flows from
the temple. WATER IS LIFE GIVING.
When John tells about the cripple at the pool at Bethesda, I am all
ears. The Storytellers Companion to the Bible tells us that the
cripple responds in faith. But ultimately, his is a story of indifference
or even failure. To be made “well”means to step out along a new
religious path. BUT such actions can get one into trouble.
The referenced to “something worse” means to be born again. For
the cripple it meant no more than solving his problem at the moment.
Later he turns Jesus in to the authorities.
Now Bethesda was famous as a pool of healing. The story contrasts 3 religious paths;
1.The cripple is short sighed – he shrinks form commitment to continue in the life of wholeness.
1.
1.2.His enemies are the ones bound by rules and restrictions so much so that they no longer have access to “life.”
1.
1.3.In Jesus there is wholeness and life and eternal life – not an easy path but a new quality of life so rich and rewarding that those who possess it can be said to possess “eternal life.”
For me, the water in today's readings is my spiritual travelogue. ---
starting with my Baptismal vows. “ We thank you, Father, for the
water of Baptism. In it we are buried with Christ in his Death, By it
we share in his Resurrection.”
In Lent, I try to discipline myself to attend to the beauty, joy and
challenge of my baptismal vows in my daily activities. I work to
keep things simple and small.
Will I continue in the apostles' teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in the prayers .
Will I persevere in resisting evil and whenever I fall into sin, to repent and return to the Lord?
Will I proclaim by word and example the Good News of God in Christ?
Lent helps me stay mindful and take joy in burrowing into the simple daily acts that add up to a life in Christ.
I PRAY: Give me an inquiring and discerning heart, the courage to will and to persevere, a spirit to know and to love you , and the gift of joy and wonder in all your works. Amen.