When Jesus asks the man who had been sick for 38 years if he wanted to be well the man answered by saying all the reasons he was not well. Like the sick man we have all our excuses made up on why we are not kinder, for forgiving, more generous. Contrast that with the vision of Ezekiel. 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. Remember that during Ezekiel’s time there was no temple! It had been destroyed and Ezekiel taken into exile. Certainly a good excuse for doubting God’s presence. But the vision provided the blessed assurance that God could make a way beyond our hopes and dreams, even sweetening the Dead Sea (which, if you have ever been there, is unimaginable.) The challenge this Lent is to rely on the grace and power of God to heal and strengthen us on our way to sanctity.
