Daily Readings - Tue Mar 13 2018

First Reading - Ezekiel 47.1-9, 12

¹And he turned me back to the gate of the house. And behold, waters went out, from under the threshold of the house, toward the east. For the face of the house looked toward the east. But the waters descended on the right side of the temple, toward the south of the altar²And he led me out, along the way of the north gate, and he turned me back toward the way outside the exterior gate, the way which looked toward the east. And behold, the waters overflowed on the right side³Then the man who held the rope in his hand departed toward the east, and he measured one thousand cubits. And he led me forward, through the water, up to the ankles⁴And again he measured one thousand, and he led me forward, through the water, up to the knees⁵And he measured one thousand, and he led me forward, through the water, up to the waist. And he measured one thousand, into a torrent, through which I was not able to pass. For the waters had risen to become a profound torrent, which was not able to be crossed⁶And he said to me: "Son of man, certainly you have seen." And he led me out, and he turned me back to the bank of the torrent⁷And when I had turned myself around, behold, on the bank of the torrent, there were very many trees on both sides⁸And he said to me: "These waters, which go forth toward the hillocks of sand to the east, and which descend to the plains of the desert, will enter the sea, and will go out, and the waters will be healed⁹And every living soul that moves, wherever the torrent arrives, will live. And there will be more than enough fish, after these waters have arrived there, and they will be healed. And all things will live, where the torrent arrives¹²And above the torrent, on its banks on both sides, every kind of fruit tree will rise up. Their foliage will not fall away, and their fruit will not fail. Every single month they will bring forth first-fruits. For its waters will go forth from the sanctuary. And its fruits will be for food, and its leaves will be for medicine.

Gospel - John 5.1-16

John

Chapter 5

¹After these things, there was a feast day of the Jews, and so Jesus ascended to Jerusalem²Now at Jerusalem is the Pool of Evidence, which in Hebrew is known as the Place of Mercy; it has five porticos³Along these lay a great multitude of the sick, the blind, the lame, and the withered, waiting for the movement of the water⁴Now at times an Angel of the Lord would descend into the pool, and so the water was moved. And whoever descended first into the pool, after the motion of the water, he was healed of whatever infirmity held him⁵And there was a certain man in that place, having been in his infirmity for thirty-eight years⁶Then, when Jesus had seen him reclining, and when he realized that he had been afflicted for a long time, he said to him, "Do you want to be healed?⁷The invalid answered him: "Lord, I do not have any man to put me in the pool, when the water has been stirred. For as I am going, another descends ahead of me.⁸Jesus said to him, "Rise, take up your stretcher, and walk.⁹And immediately the man was healed. And he took up his stretcher and walked. Now this day was the Sabbath¹⁰Therefore, the Jews said to the one who had been healed: "It is the Sabbath. It is not lawful for you to take up your stretcher.¹¹He answered them, "The one who healed me, he said to me, ‘Take up your stretcher and walk.’ ¹²Therefore, they questioned him, "Who is that man, who said to you, ‘Take up your bed and walk?’ ¹³But the one who had been given health did not know who it was. For Jesus had turned aside from the crowd gathered in that place¹⁴Afterwards, Jesus found him in the temple, and he said to him: "Behold, you have been healed. Do not choose to sin further, otherwise something worse may happen to you.¹⁵This man went away, and he reported to the Jews that it was Jesus who had given him health¹⁶Because of this, the Jews were persecuting Jesus, for 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.