Monday, March 23, 2009
TUESDAY 4TH WEEK OF LENT
TUESDAY 4TH WEEK OF LENT – YEAR I
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 cubit sand 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."
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.
REFLECTION
In today's passage from Ezekiel, we read about a spring which makes
everything grow. This spring prefigures the Holy Spirit which the Lord
will give to His elect. The water that flowed from Jesus' side after
the soldier pierced him with a lance is also a symbol of the Holy
Spirit. Only the Holy Spirit can allow us to bear fruit. The Holy
Spirit gives us the strength and ability to do good works.
In the Gospel, Jesus cures a sick man at the Pool of Bethzatha. Once
again there is water which cures but it is Jesus who cures through his
words and actions. All of us need healing and purification, to be born
again through the waters of baptism and through the Holy Spirit. The
sick man had been sick for 38 years but no matter how long we have
been sick, Jesus can cure us.
During this time of Lent, let us ask Jesus to cleanse us of our sins,
to renew us and make us new persons full of love and mercy. Only he
can cure us. Let us pray and have faith in him.
PRAYER REQUESTS
We pray …
… for a deep and profound respect for life, especially for the
unborn.
… for the healing and strength of:
- Elena
- Sophia Gonzalez
- Ester Marcelo
- Coach Boy Afable
… for the safety of Johnson Cuiting
… for the eternal repose of the soul of Remedios Ho. Eternal rest
grant unto her and may perpetual light shine upon her. May she and all
the dearly departed rest in peace.
… for all the prayer intentions in the MTQ Dailyprayer Diary.
- Birthday: Cesar Luis F. Bate
- In Memoriam (+): Consuelo Cunanan (Mar 24,1914-Jan 8, 1981)
… for the healing and peace of all families
Finally, we pray for one another, for those who have asked our prayers
and for those who need our prayers the most.
Have a good day!
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