Tuesday of the Fourth Week of Lent

Lectionary: 245

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 facade of the temple was toward the east....

Ezekiel's story about his adventure in the marvelous stream which flowed from the heavenly temple follows several chapters about the temple which the exiled Jews should build when they return to Jerusalem. It's a fantastic vision from a man who had seen the Temple of God on a plain in Heaven and supposed a replica should appear in the mountainous terrain of Israel. 

What they actually built when they returned was marvelous but bore little resemblance to his vision, and disappointed those ancient ones who remembered Solomon's splendid temple. (Some devout hobbyists have attempted to build models of Ezekiel's temple.)

Saint John saw a resemblance between Ezekiel's stream and the pool of Bethesda near the temple's Sheep Gate, which was fed by natural springs. It provided water to the city, and a pool for bathing. Beggars saw opportunity in that public place and took up stations there. There was a legend that anyone who might jump into the water when it stirred -- as it might when an angel stirred it or a seismic tremors shook the region -- would be healed of whatever ailed them.

Saint John also recalled Ezekiel's sacred stream in his passion narrative, 

"...one soldier thrust his lance into his side, and immediately blood and water flowed out." (19:34) 

The Lord's body is the temple. We enter through his sacred wounds, are baptized in its stream, drink his Eucharistic blood, and are healed. 

Saint John also uses this story to introduce the Lord's teaching about his unique relationship with God the Father. He is the Only Begotten Son of God, unlike any other child of God. Those who would know God must go to Jesus and ask about His Father. He should never be confused with our human fathers. Whether they were present or absent, strong or weak, kind or cruel, our human fathers are brothers in Christ. They stand with us before the majesty of Our Father in Heaven. As Saint Paul said, 

"For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named.... (Ephesians 3:14)

Lent and Holy Week draw us more deeply into these fascinating mysteries. We are the prophets who see them; they should consume our attention in the next few weeks.