Daily Readings - Tue Mar 13 2018
Ezekiel
1Then he brought me back to the door of the temple, and behold, water was issuing from below the threshold of the temple toward the east (for the temple faced east). The water was flowing down from below the south end of the threshold of the temple, south of the altar.2Then he brought me out by way of the north gate and led me around on the outside to the outer gate that faces toward the east; and behold, the water was trickling out on the south side.3Going on eastward with a measuring line in his hand, the man measured a thousand cubits, and then led me through the water, and it was ankle-deep.4Again he measured a thousand, and led me through the water, and it was knee-deep. Again he measured a thousand, and led me through the water, and it was waist-deep.5Again he measured a thousand, and it was a river that I could not pass through, for the water had risen. It was deep enough to swim in, a river that could not be passed through.6And he said to me, "Son of man, have you seen this?"Then he led me back to the bank of the river.7As I went back, I saw on the bank of the river very many trees on the one side and on the other.8And he said to me, "This water flows toward the eastern region and goes down into the Arabah, and enters the sea; when the water flows into the sea, the water will become fresh.9And wherever the river goes, every living creature that swarms will live, and there will be very many fish. For this water goes there, that the waters of the sea may become fresh; so everything will live where the river goes.12And on the banks, on both sides of the river, there will grow all kinds of trees for food. Their leaves will not wither, nor their fruit fail, but they will bear fresh fruit every month, because the water for them flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food, and their leaves for healing."
John
1After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.2Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, in Aramaic called Bethesda, which has five roofed colonnades.3In these lay a multitude of invalids--blind, lame, and paralyzed.4See Footnote5One man was there who had been an invalid for thirty-eight years.6When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been there a long time, he said to him, "Do you want to be healed?"7The sick man answered him, "Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, and while I am going another steps down before me."8Jesus said to him, "Get up, take up your bed, and walk."9And at once the man was healed, and he took up his bed and walked.Now that day was the Sabbath.10So the Jews said to the man who had been healed, "It is the Sabbath, and it is not lawful for you to take up your bed."11But he answered them, "The man who healed me, that man said to me, 'Take up your bed, and walk.'"12They asked him, "Who is the man who said to you, 'Take up your bed and walk'?"13Now the man who had been healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, as there was a crowd in the place.14Afterward Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, "See, you are well! Sin no more, that nothing worse may happen to you."15The man went away and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had healed him.16And this was why the Jews were persecuting Jesus, because he was doing these things on the Sabbath.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the themes of healing, renewal, and the life-giving power of God’s presence in our lives. In Ezekiel’s vision, the prophet describes a river flowing from the Temple, bringing life to the desert and healing to all it touches. This river symbolizes the restorative power of God, who transforms barrenness into fertility and despair into hope. The Gospel reading complements this imagery as Jesus heals a man who had been paralyzed for thirty-eight years. Despite the man’s long wait and the challenges of the situation, Jesus’ command to “rise, take up your stretcher, and walk” demonstrates His authority over human limitations and His desire to restore wholeness to those in need.
Both readings are set in contexts where hope seems distant. Ezekiel’s vision comes during a time of exile and despair for the Israelites, while the Gospel story takes place in a society governed by strict rules and traditions. Yet, in both cases, God’s power transcends human constraints. The river in Ezekiel flows even into the salt waters of the Dead Sea, transforming them into a source of life, while Jesus heals on the Sabbath, challenging the rigid interpretations of the law. These stories remind us that God’s grace is not bound by our circumstances or limitations. His healing and renewal are always available, even in the most unlikely places.
As we apply these readings to our daily lives, we are called to trust in God’s plan and to seek His healing presence. Like the man at the Pool of Bethesda, we may feel stuck or unable to move forward on our own. But Jesus invites us to rise above our fears and doubts, to take up our crosses, and to walk in faith. The river of Ezekiel’s vision reminds us that God’s grace flows into every area of our lives, bringing fruitfulness and vitality. Let us open ourselves to this grace, allowing it to transform us and to flow through us to others. In doing so, we become instruments of healing and hope in a world that often feels barren and lifeless.