COLLECT: “MAY THE VENERABLE EXERCISES OF HOLY DEVOTION SHAPE THE HEARTS OF YOUR FAITHFUL, O LORD, TO WELCOME WORTHILY THE PASCHAL MYSTERY AND PROCLAIM THE PRAISES OF YOUR SALVATION. THROUGH OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, YOUR SON, WHO LIVES AND REIGNS WITH YOU IN THE UNITY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, GOD, FOR EVER AND EVER AMEN. AMEN”.
Ez 47:1-9,12; Ps 45:2-3,5-6,8-9 and Jn 5:1-16.
The Dagaaba have a saying that: “Bong ka zonga buora ka nimir naang: (Lit. “What does a blind man need if not an eye”). The morale is that everyone needs a solution for his/her problem or challenge in life. Disobedience resulting in sin brought about suffering, sickness, pain and death in human life, thereby placing us in a position of dire need for salvation. However, we cannot obtain it from anywhere or from anyone except from the Lord Jesus through deep faith in Him. In faith, the blind man who suffered from his predicament for 38 years followed Jesus’ instructions and eventually he received healing (Cf. Jn 5:1-3,5-16).
Today, Jesus is not physically present with us. Still, through the Sacraments he instituted in the Church, he continues to live with us and we continue to experience his presence and his healing touch. Through the waters of baptism, Jesus cleanses us, washes us clean and brings renewal and new life to humanity. The waters of baptism heal and cure us from the sicknesses of the Sin of Adam as well as our personal sins. When we receive it, we are regenerated and recreated anew. This is the picture that the portion of the Book of Ezekiel we reflect on today portrays (Ez 47:1-9,12). The ‘Sheep Pool’ in Jerusalem as well as all that happens there is a prefiguration of baptism. The water in there brings life to all kinds of living creatures as it flows. Fruit-bearing trees of every kind are growing along the banks of this water, bearing fresh fruits every month. These fruits serve as food for people and their leaves serve as medicine for the sick. We call to mind the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, Holy Eucharist, Penance and the Anointing of the Sick as a foretaste.
During this Lenten season, Jesus is calling on us as he questions you and me “Do we want to be well again from the illness that our sins have caused us?” Our answer will depend on our faith in him. If my faith is deeply rooted in Jesus, then my answer will be in the affirmative and I will be told by the Lord to ‘rise from where I am lying crippled because of my sins, take up my mat and walk away’. If however, due to pride and lack of faith, my answer to his question is negative, then I will continue to lie where my sins have crippled me.
A reminder that Lent invites us not only to abstain from alcoholic drink and meat on Ash Wednesday, Good Friday and Fridays in Lent, but to open our hearts and go deep into them to identify our sinful thoughts, words and actions. When we identify them, then we humbly come to the Lord as we wade into the Sacraments, to be washed clean and be renewed. Let us avail ourselves of the Sacraments, especially the Sacraments of Baptism, Reconciliation/Penance and the Eucharist to be washed, renewed and recreated. Let us approach the Sacraments in deep faith for Christ to heal us through them. Stay blessed by the Lord.
WE MEDITATE TODAY, TUESDAY, ON THE SORROWFUL MYSTERIES: ‘THE AGONY IN THE GARDEN, THE SCOURGING AT THE PILLAR, THE CROWNING WITH THORNS, THE CARRYING OF THE CROSS AND THE CRUCIFIXION’ (WE PRAY FOR SORROW FOR SIN, PURITY, COURAGE, PATIENCE, AND PERSEVERANCE) “Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you, blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb Jesus: Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us, sinners, now and the hour of our death, Amen”.
PRAYER: “PURIFY OUR MINDS, O LORD, WE PRAY, AND RENEW THEM WITH THIS HEAVENLY SACRAMENT, THAT WE MAY FIND HELP FOR OUR BODIES NOW AND LIKEWISE IN TIMES TO COME. THROUGH CHRIST OUR LORD. AMEN”.
Rev. Fr. Aloysius Kpiebaya, Catholic Diocese of Wa, UW/R, Ghana. (00233) 0207867239/0545462863. Email: aloybaya20@yahoo.
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