God’s Water Flows with Life

March 20 2012

Tuesday of the Fourth Week of Lent

By Beth DeCristofaro

(The Angel) 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, very 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." (Ezekiel 47:8-12)

Jesus found (the man he had healed) in the temple area and said to him, "Look, you are well; do not sin anymore, so that nothing worse may happen to you." (John 5:15)

Piety

Glory be to God for dappled things --

For skies of couple-colour as a brinded cow;

For rose-moles all in stipple upon trout that swim;

Fresh-firecoal chestnut-falls; finches' wings;

Landscape plotted and pieced -- fold, fallow, and plough;

And all trades, their gear and tackle and trim.

All things counter, original, spare, strange;

Whatever is fickle, freckled (who knows how?)

With swift, slow; sweet, sour; adazzle, dim;

He fathers-forth whose beauty is past change:

Praise him.

(Praise in Creation by Gerard Manley Hopkins)

Study

Ezekiel and the Heavenly Messenger wade together in this vision which illustrates the presence of God and God’s great blessings given to humans. In the liturgical year we are in the time of preparation for God’s coming. In the metrological year we are in the preparation for life – Spring. And what a glorious Spring we are having here in Virginia. Each day is a divine invitation to join God outside in Creation to glory in and give thanks for these blessings.

Even as we focus on our almsgiving, penitence and fasting, perhaps we can apply these principals to stewardship of our Earth as well. Pope Benedict stated: Alongside the ecology of nature, there exists what can be called a “human” ecology, which in turn demands a “social” ecology. All this means that humanity, if it truly desires peace, must be increasingly conscious of the links between natural ecology, or respect for nature, and human ecology. Experience shows that disregard for the environment always harms human coexistence, and vice versa. It becomes more and more evident that there is an inseparable link between peace with creation and peace among men. (World Day of Peace Message, 2007, no. 8)

Action

As we begin to get out in our own yards to weed, clear, fertilize and plant, consider the links between our lifestyle and the lives of others around the world. What does my consumption mean for those who do not have? What do the use of pesticides and the trash I generate mean for the beauty of Creation? How can I apply the Lenten practices of fasting, almsgiving and repentance to better the earth and my global neighbors?