Gospel Reflection - John 5:1-16 - Tuesday of the Fourth Week of Lent

Gospel Reflection - John 5:1-16 - Tuesday of the Fourth Week of Lent






    Reading 1

    Ez 47:1-9, 12
    The angel brought me, Ezekiel,
    back to the entrance of the temple of the LORD,
    and I saw water flowing out
    from beneath the threshold of the temple toward the east,
    for the façade of the temple was toward the east;
    the water flowed down from the right side of the temple,
    south of the altar.
    He led me outside by the north gate,
    and around to the outer gate facing the east,
    where I saw water trickling from the right side.
    Then when he had walked off to the east
    with a measuring cord in his hand,
    he measured off a thousand cubits
    and had me wade through the water,
    which was ankle-deep.
    He measured off another thousand
    and once more had me wade through the water,
    which was now knee-deep.
    Again he measured off a thousand and had me wade;
    the water was up to my waist.
    Once more he measured off a thousand,
    but there was now a river through which I could not wade;
    for the water had risen so high it had become a river
    that could not be crossed except by swimming.
    He asked me, "Have you seen this, son of man?"
    Then he brought me to the bank of the river, where he had me sit.
    Along the bank of the river I saw very many trees on both sides.
    He 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,
    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.
    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."

    Responsorial Psalm

    Ps 46:2-3, 5-6, 8-9
    R. (8)  The Lord of hosts is with us; our stronghold is the God of Jacob.

    God is our refuge and our strength,
    an ever-present help in distress.
    Therefore we fear not, though the earth be shaken
    and mountains plunge into the depths of the sea.

    R. The Lord of hosts is with us; our stronghold is the God of Jacob.

    There is a stream whose runlets gladden the city of God,
    the holy dwelling of the Most High.
    God is in its midst; it shall not be disturbed;
    God will help it at the break of dawn.

    R. The Lord of hosts is with us; our stronghold is the God of Jacob.

    The LORD of hosts is with us;
    our stronghold is the God of Jacob.
    Come! behold the deeds of the LORD,
    the astounding things he has wrought on earth.

    R. The Lord of hosts is with us; our stronghold is the God of Jacob.

    Verse Before the Gospel
    Ps 51:12a, 14a
    A clean heart create for me, O God;
    give me back the joy of your salvation.

    Gospel

    Jn 5:1-16
    There was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
    Now there is in Jerusalem at the Sheep Gate
    a pool called in Hebrew Bethesda, with five porticoes.
    In these lay a large number of ill, blind, lame, and crippled.
    One man was there who had been ill for thirty-eight years.
    When Jesus saw him lying there
    and knew that he had been ill for a long time, he said to him,
    "Do you want to be well?"
    The sick man answered him,
    "Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool
    when the water is stirred up;
    while I am on my way, someone else gets down there before me."
    Jesus said to him, "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 had made him well.
    Therefore, the Jews began to persecute Jesus
    because he did this on a sabbath.

    Reflection

    In John 5:1-16, we read about Jesus healing a man who had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. The story takes place at the pool of Bethesda, where many sick people would gather, hoping to be healed by the waters.

    When Jesus saw the man lying there, he asked him if he wanted to be healed. The man replied that he had no one to help him into the pool when the water was stirred. Jesus then told him to get up, pick up his mat, and walk. The man was instantly healed and did as Jesus had instructed him.

    This Gospel passage reminds us of the power of faith and the mercy of God. The man had been an invalid for a long time and had given up hope of ever being healed. Yet, when Jesus approached him and asked him if he wanted to be healed, the man expressed his faith that Jesus could heal him. He didn't know who Jesus was, but he believed that He could heal him.

    Jesus' response to the man's faith was immediate and complete healing. This shows us that our faith in God can move mountains, and we should never give up hope in Him. We must have the courage to approach Jesus, even in our most desperate situations, and ask for His help.

    Furthermore, this Gospel passage also highlights the importance of compassion and empathy. Jesus showed great compassion towards the man and saw beyond his physical disabilities. He saw a man who was suffering and in need of healing, and He responded with love and kindness. As followers of Christ, we must also be compassionate towards those who are suffering, and we should always strive to be the hands and feet of Jesus in the world.

    In conclusion, the story of the healing at the pool of Bethesda reminds us of the power of faith, the mercy of God, and the importance of compassion. It challenges us to approach Jesus with faith and to be His instruments of love and compassion in the world.

    Prayer


    Dear God,

    We come before you today, grateful for the gift of faith and the power of your healing love. We thank you for the story of the healing at the pool of Bethesda in John 5:1-16, which reminds us of your infinite mercy and compassion.

    As we reflect on this Gospel passage, we ask you to help us deepen our faith in you. Grant us the courage to approach you with all of our struggles, knowing that you are always with us and that your love can move mountains. Help us to trust in you more fully and to be open to the healing and transformation you offer.

    We also ask you to help us cultivate compassion and empathy towards those who are suffering around us. Like Jesus, help us to see beyond physical disabilities and to recognize the dignity of every person. Help us to be your hands and feet in the world, bringing healing and comfort to those who are hurting.

    Finally, we pray for all those who are in need of healing today. We ask that you bring them comfort and peace, and that they may experience your love and grace in profound ways. We pray that they may be filled with hope and trust in your goodness.

    We offer this prayer to you in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Amen.


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