By
Melanie Rigney
(The angel told Ezekiel:) “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.” (Ezekiel
47:9)
The
Lord of hosts is with us; our stronghold is the God of Jacob. (Psalm 46:8)
Jesus said to (the
sick man), “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 made him well. Therefore, the Jews began to persecute Jesus because
he did this on a sabbath. (John 5:8-16)
Piety
Rain Your
love down on me, Lord.
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| Renata Sedmakova Shutterstock.com |
Study
When the
angel took Ezekiel back to the temple entrance, water was trickling. After the
angel measured off a distance, the water was ankle-deep. Another measure,
knee-deep. Another measure, waist-high; another measure, it had turned into a
river.
God’s
goodness can feel that way as well… starting off small, then, as we open
ourselves up and become more receptive to His grace, we find ourselves awash in
love so strong and overpowering that it’s like nothing we’ve ever known before,
even if we thought we had embraced Him before. Sometimes it’s an angel who
opens the spigots to the greater outpouring… sometimes it’s the study of
scripture or Sacred Tradition… sometimes it’s someone in our lives.
Consider
the case of the sick man in today’s Gospel reading. His physical ailments were
cured, but his concern for himself was greater than his gratitude. Amid
questioning by the authorities about the healing taking place on the sabbath,
he was unwilling or unable to simply slip away as Jesus had. The man was still
healed. But I suspect he felt the spigot of grace in his soul slow down to a
trickle, just as we do when we focus on potential consequences of following the
Lord in this world, rather than on the joy it brings us. May we continually
open ourselves and our souls… and go with His flow.
Action
Do something silly today that involves
water. Maybe it’s taking a long shower and singing your favorite hymn at the
top of your lungs. Maybe it’s splashing about and praying out loud as you wash
the dishes.
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