Every day of Lent, Bishop Edward Malesic writes a Scripture reflection for the faithful. Follow the bishop on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Click HERE for the readings.
Water is a strong focus of today’s readings. In a spiritual vision, Ezekiel travels with an angel deeper and deeper into a flowing stream of water that pours outward from the temple beginning at ankle height, going to waist deep, eventually to a depth that makes it impossible for feet to touch the riverbed. The river makes salt water fresh and it gives abundant life to all kinds of animals and plants that produce much fruit.
Think of the water of your baptism and how the life of God’s grace has flowed into you from that day. Think of the grace of God bringing freshness to your life. The water of your baptism eventually led you to forgiveness in the sacrament of reconciliation, then to receive the Eucharist in the sacrament of the Mass, then to receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit in the sacrament of Confirmation. Through the grace-filled waters of your baptism, God led you receive a special vocation, perhaps to marriage or to holy orders (or both for our permanent deacons), or to a more committed single life, perhaps of consecration. All along the way, as you traveled, as long as you moved forward with God, God took you deeper and deeper into his mystery of love for you. The grace of baptismal water is not stagnant, but becomes fresher and life giving as we mature with God. Just like the man who waited for the waters to stir at the pool of Bethesda, Jesus came to take us into his healing waters too.
How deep are you in the waters of your baptism – and how fruitful has your life in Christ become by the life that he has poured abundantly into you?
Pray for those who are preparing to be baptized at the Easter Vigil – and for all who are about to be baptized. Pray that God’s life will not only be poured into them, but that they will be moved to bear good fruit by God’s presence in their life.