4th Week of Lent 2021 - Tuesday - "A stream whose runlets gladden the city of God"

 Of the seven miracles in the Gospel of John, three have to do with water. Jesus changes water into wine at Cana, Jesus heals the crippled man at the water of Bethesda, and Jesus walks on the water of the Sea of Galilee. 

Water is a prominent motif in the Gospel of John. Just like in Genesis 1, in which we hear of the waters of creation, in John 1, we hear of the Baptist baptizing with the waters of repentance. Water, in the very first lines of this Gospel, marks a new beginning of a life sorrowful for sin.

In Chapter 2, Water is changed by Jesus, at the wedding of Cana, to become wine that gladdens the hearts of the wedding guests. And in Chapter 3, Jesus tells Nicodemus that his followers must be born again of water and the spirit.

In Chapter 4, Jesus speaks to the Samaritan woman. He says, “everyone who drinks the water of this well will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

In Chapter 5, there is the water of the pool of bethesda. But this water seems to be ineffective at healing: true healing comes from Jesus. And in Chapter 6, Jesus walks on the water, showing his absolute authority over all the waters of creation.

An abundance of water pours forth from the Temple, in Ezekiel’s vision today, and our Psalm speaks of the “stream” of water “whose runlets gladden the city of God”. These foreshadow, along with all of those Gospel images, the waters of baptism which gladden the Church. 

In less than three weeks, thousands of catechumens around the world will be baptized in water at the Easter Vigil. And a billion Catholics will renew their baptismal promises and be sprinkled with fresh Easter water. 

The more seriously we take Lenten penance the more gladness we will experience on Easter Sunday. For Lent helps us to recognize and repent of the ways we have allowed that spring of living water within us to perhaps become clogged or obstructed through earthly attachments to sin. Rather, Lent calls us back to those life-giving, soul-saving, cleansing, freeing, healing water of God’s divine life for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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That God may be pleased to increase faith and understanding in the catechumens and candidates who approach the sacraments of initiation in the coming Paschal Solemnity. 

That those in need may find assistance in the charity of faithful Christians and that peace and security may be firmly established in all places.

For strength to resist temptation, and the humility to sincerely repent of sin.

That through fasting and self-denial, we may be ever more conformed to Christ.

For all who have died, and for all the poor souls in purgatory, and for X. for whom this Mass is offered.

Mercifully hear, O Lord, the prayers of your Church and turn with compassion to the hearts that bow before you, that those you make sharers in your divine mystery may always benefit from your assistance.