DAILY- HOMILY

APRIL 5, 2011
MEMORIAL, ST. VINCENT FERRER, PRIEST
TUESDAY 4TH WEEK OF LENT – YEAR I

Ez 47:1-9, 12 / Ps 46:2-3, 5-6, 8-9 / Jn 5:1-3, 5-16

EZEKIEL 47:1-9, 12
The man brought me back to the entrance of the Tem ple and I saw water
coming out from the threshold of the Temple and flowing eastwards. The
Temple faced the east and the water flowed from the south side of the
Tem ple, from the south side of the altar. He then brought me out
through the north gate and led me around the outside to the outer gate
facing the east and there I saw the stream coming from the south side.
The man had a measuring cord in his hand. As he went towards the east
he measured off a thousand cubits and led me across the water which
was up to my ankles. He measured off another thousand cubits and made
me cross the water which came to my knees. He measured off another
thousand cubits and we crossed the water which was up to my waist.
When he had again measured a thousand cubits, I could not cross the
torrent for it had swollen to a depth which was impossible to cross
without swimming. The man then said to me, "Son of man, did you see?"
He led me on further and then brought me back to the bank of the
river. There I saw a number of trees on both sides of the river. He
said to me, "This water goes to the east, down to the Arabah, and when
it flows into the sea of foulsmelling water, the water will become
wholesome. Wherever the river flows, swarms of creatures will live in
it; fish will be plentiful and the sea water will become fresh.
Wherever it flows, life will abound.

JOHN 5:1-16
There was a man who had been sick for thirty-eight years. Jesus saw
him, and since he knew how long this man had been lying there, he said
to him, "Do you want to be healed?" And the sick man answered, "Sir, I
have no one to put me into the pool when the water is disturbed; so
while I am still on my way, another steps down before me." Jesus then
said to him, "Stand up, take your mat and walk." And at once the man
was healed, and he took up his mat and walked. Now that day happened
to be the Sabbath. So the Jews said to the man who had just been
healed, "It is the Sabbath and the Law doesn't allow you to carry your
mat." He answered them, "The one who healed me said to me: Take up
your mat and walk." They asked him, "Who is the one who said to you:
Take up your mat and walk?" But the sick man had no idea who it was
who had cured him, for Jesus had slipped away among the crowd that
filled the place. Afterwards Jesus met him in the Temple cour t and
told him, "Now you are well; don't sin again, lest something worse
happen to you." And the man went back and told the Jews that it was
Jesus who had healed him.

REFLECTION
In today's first reading, Ezekiel sees this little stream coming out
from underneath the altar, around the south side of the temple, which
flows down to a river. There is a stream that comes out from
underneath the south wall of the temple in Jerusalem. It flows down
into the pool of Bethesda. This is the connection between today's
readings; that was the water that filled up the pool.

At this pool of Bethesda, the paralyzed man waits to be the first to
get into the pool as soon as the water is stirred. They believe that
when the waters are stirred up, it is the angel of the Lord that comes
down. The first person to enter the water will be healed. Being
paralyzed, the man is never able to enter the pool first.

"Do you want to be healed?" This is the same question that each one of
us needs to ask ourselves also. The river in the first reading begins
as a little, tiny stream but ends up as a river where Ezekiel has to
swim through. So it is also with our spiritual life. Do we want to
grow in holiness and spiritually?

The river in today's Gospel is about the symbol of grace. It is the
Holy Spirit at work; it is the grace of God. Perhaps we ask ourselves:
"Why is it that the saints can do many extraordinary things while I
can barely do even the littlest and tiniest things?" Is it because the
saints are swimming in the river, while most of us are still wandering
around in the little trickle from the side of the temple? Are we
willing to swim in the river, follow its flow and become completely
immersed in God's grace?

PRAYER REQUESTS
We pray …
… for a deep and profound respect for life, especially for the
unborn.
… for the speedy recovery and healing of Tessa C. Yang
… for the personal intentions of:
- Josheil Dapo
- Elizabeth R. Ong - Pilones
… for the eternal repose of the souls of
- Doctor Roger John and Eugene Neumayer
Eternal rest grant unto them and may perpetual light shine upon them.
May they and all the dearly departed rest in peace.
… for all the prayer intentions in the MTQ Dailyprayer Diary.
- Birthday: Ses Sesbreno
- Birthday: Ma. Carolina P. Dee
- Birthday: Gloria M. Arroyo
… for world peace and reconciliation.

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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