Today’s Catholic Reflection
Ezekiel shares a vision of water flowing from the temple of the Lord. It begins as a small trickle and grows into a deep river. An angel guides Ezekiel along its banks, measuring the rising water. It moves from ankle-deep to a point where one must swim to cross. Along the river, trees flourish, bearing fruit and leaves that never wither. This water transforms salty seas into fresh ones, giving life to all creatures and plants.
In the Gospel of John, Jesus meets a man who has been sick for thirty-eight years at the pool of Bethesda. The man struggles to reach the water when it stirs. Jesus tells him to rise, take up his mat, and walk. The man is healed immediately. When questioned by the Jews about carrying his mat on the Sabbath, he explains that Jesus healed him. Later, Jesus finds him in the temple and advises him to avoid sin, warning of worse consequences. This act of healing leads to greater persecution of Jesus by the Jewish leaders.