Ezekiel 47:1-9, 12
John 5:1-16
Robert Waldrop writes,
“Jesus is in trouble again. He healed a man on the Sabbath, a day of rest. The man had been paralyzed for 38 years. He was at a traditional place where sick people came to be healed, but he had no one to place him in the waters.
“Ezekiel gives us a vision of healing waters, flowing from the Temple, restoring fertility to the deserts, symbolizing a return to the primeval paradise, looking forward to the Reign of God here on Earth.
“Once again Jesus shows his concern for the marginalized, in this case, a man who was paralyzed. Such people had no status in Roman or Israelite society, they were at the mercy of others.
“Jesus does not shrink from the sight before him, he does not have on his Invisibility Spectacles that allow him to ignore the poor and weak. He not only notices the man, but He helps him by bringing him healing and health.
“The rulers are furious, which historically is the typical political reaction to anybody who works to bring justice and peace (structures of sin always vigorously defend themselves against those who would bring them redemption).
“Once again that wretched rabbi has defied convention and done something unprecedented. Healing on the Sabbath indeed, who does this man think he is? Who indeed; that is the question, then and now.
“We can ask, who do these rulers think they are to stand in opposition to those who would help the poor?”
Francis Martin writes that,
“Water is once again the symbolic theme of today's readings—water flowing from Christ's side and the water of baptism. Both of these water images are expressions of the fruit of Jesus' death and resurrection.
“The first reading is taken from one of the highlights of a long, nine-chapter description given by Ezekiel of what the land of Israel, and especially the temple, will be like when God restores his people. Typical of such prophetic visions is a certain mixing of horizons.
“Ezekiel is speaking, immediately after the return of Israel from exile, about the promise of a restored temple; but he also describes in symbol what God will do when he makes good on all the promises he ever made to Israel.
“The prophet saw water flowing from the side of the new temple. It formed a stream that became progressively deeper until it was a mighty river flowing out into the desert and filling the Dead Sea.
“Then Ezekiel saw many trees along the banks of the river, and from the angel who accompanied him he heard of the life-giving power of this water.
“Jesus is the new temple, and from his side flow rivers of living water.
“If we believe, we thirst; if we come to Jesus in faith, we will drink of the life-giving water, the Spirit, who flows from within him.”
Posted by John
at 12:01 AM CST