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April 2, 2019The readings for today provide us with some beautiful imagery to reflect upon. Ezekiel tells us about the river flowing from the throne of God that offers new life to all of the creatures of the earth. This water also causes the trees to provide fresh fruit every month, and those who eat of their fruit receive medicine from the leaves. This beautiful scene is reminiscent of the tranquility of the garden of Eden before the fall of Adam and Eve.
The gospel today also provides us with striking imagery in the story of the paralyzed man. As Jesus walks through the porches of the temple, he finds a man paralyzed for thirty-eight years. He asks the man about his situation, and the man tells him that he has been paralyzed and has no one to put him into the pool when the waters stir. The seas were thought to have had curative powers. Then Jesus asks him an odd question given the previous dialogue. Do you want to be well? The man responds he wants to be well and Jesus gives the command to “rise, take up your mat and walk.” And the man is immediately made well.
These readings demonstrate for us the love and healing power of God. And they beg us to ask ourselves if we want to be well? If we're going to be well, we need to ask God for his grace to heal us mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually. All of us have some suffering in our lives and need healing. As we begin the fourth week of Lent, there is still time for us to make use of the time that we have been given to examine our lives and to ask God for the grace to address the areas of life that are in need of His healing grace and mercy; for God wants us to be well. The only thing holding us back is our refusal to admit there is woundedness in our life and that we need His help to heal the brokenness in each of our lives.
Rise, take up your mat and walk to Jesus and the healing that flows from his wounded hands.
