Daily Readings - Tue Mar 21 2023
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
In today's readings, we encounter powerful symbols of healing and renewal. Ezekiel's vision in chapter 47 describes a life-giving river flowing from the Temple, transforming the desert into a lush, fruitful land. This river, which begins as a trickle and grows into a mighty torrent, symbolizes God's restorative power and His promise to bring life to barren places. The Gospel from John 5 complements this imagery with the story of Jesus healing a man who had been sick for 38 years. Despite the man's long wait by the Pool of Bethesda, Jesus intervenes directly, demonstrating His divine authority and compassion.
Both readings emphasize the transformative power of God's presence in our lives. Ezekiel's river represents the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, who brings spiritual renewal and healing. Similarly, Jesus' miracle at the Pool of Bethesda shows that true healing comes not from human effort or tradition but from encountering the living God. The man's inability to reach the water on his own highlights our need for divine intervention and grace. Just as the river in Ezekiel's vision flows from the sanctuary, Jesus, the true Temple of God's presence, flows into our lives to bring restoration and wholeness.
As we reflect on these readings, let us ask ourselves: Where are the barren places in our lives that need the refreshing waters of God's grace? How can we trust more deeply in His power to heal and transform us? Just as the man at the Pool of Bethesda was called to rise and walk, we too are invited to step out in faith, leaving behind the comforts of our limitations and embracing the fullness of life that Jesus offers. May we, like the trees in Ezekiel's vision, bear fruit that endures, and may our lives be a testament to the healing power of God's love.