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The prophet Ezekiel paints a picture of a beautiful stream that originates in the Temple and grows deeper and wider as it flows outward.
It begins as an ankle-deep trickle but becomes a river that can only be crossed by swimming. It flows out over the whole land, bringing and sustaining life wherever it goes. It even turns the salty, toxic waters of the Dead Sea into a source of refreshment and promise!
Guess what? We the baptized have been plunged into that very stream. God’s life now flows in us, ready to carry us along.
Where are you in the stream? Ankle deep? In over your head? Somewhere in between? No matter! Wherever you are, God is inviting you to go deeper. Don’t be afraid to wade or jump in, splash around, and get wet. Unlike earthly streams that we have managed to pollute, this stream washes clean everyone who enters it. It can never be sullied, no matter how great the sins we bring into it. That’s because it is the river of God’s mercy.
Where is the water of God’s life touching you today? Are tears of grief, repentance, or rejoicing welling up in you? Perhaps God is inviting you to be scrubbed, cleansed, and renewed by the sacraments, especially Confession. Maybe you’re soaking in the soothing waters of God’s presence, letting the moisture sink into your parched soul. Maybe you’ve jumped in over your head, and it feels as if you’re floundering. (If so, just relax and let the Spirit carry you.)
The next time you come to church, be sure to pause by the font of holy water. If your church keeps it dry during Lent, take time to reflect on your thirst for a fresh outpouring of the Spirit at Easter. If it is filled, pay extra attention as you sign yourself with the cross. On your way out of church, as well, remember that Ezekiel’s stream grows deeper and stronger and more life giving as it leaves the place of worship and flows out into the world God created and loves. That stream is now carrying you, empowering you to be an agent of healing and new life to everyone around you.
“Holy Spirit, I thirst for you. Let the water of your new life flow into me. Let your love flow out through me to renew the world.”
Psalm 46:2-3,5-6,8-9; John 5:1-16
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