Tuesday of the Fourth Week

Reflection

Where are our encounters with Jesus? “Who do you say that I am?” These questions, based on reflections I’ve heard recently, are on my mind and in my heart this Lent.

God is our refuge and our strength, an ever-present help in distress.  Now there is in Jerusalem at the Sheep Gate a pool called in Hebrew Bethesda, with five porticoes.  In these lay a large number of ill, blind, lame, and crippled.  One man was there who had been ill for thirty-eight years.  Jesus said to him, "Rise, take up your mat, and walk."  Immediately the man became well, took up his mat, and walked.

How do our encounters with Jesus change us? For the man who was ill lying beside the pool at Bethesda, the physical healing was obvious. He stood up and walked. For me and for many, healing takes place in my heart and mind in the form of grace, having insights and empathy, being open instead of rigid or afraid, knowing forgiveness so being able to forgive. In all life circumstances, I try to pray “God is our refuge and our strength, an ever-present help in distress.”

The man who was ill and couldn’t get into the water quickly enough had been ill for 38 years, yet he continued to sit by the pool. Then he encountered Jesus, or rather Jesus found him, where he had waited patiently for many years. People encounter Jesus, then and now, in unlikely places and in unexpected circumstances. Jesus sought out women, children, people who were sick or had disabilities, those who had no family or protection, people who were unacceptable, despised, or outside His Jewish community. He sought encounters with them and with us.

The man by the pool might say Jesus is a healer, a savior. How do we answer the question posed to Peter? We probably base our answers on where and in whom we’ve encountered Jesus...light, teacher, friend, companion, God, strength, helper, refuge, leader, rescuer, savior, brother.

Prayer

Lord, help me to recognize You in daily encounters and to respond to healing with love.  Amen. 

Jan Hancock, M’12, P’99, P’09, Member of the Worshipping Community

Scripture

First Reading: Ezekiel 47: 1-9, 12
Psalm 46:2-3, 5-6, 8-9
Gospel: John 5:1-16

Daily Scripture readings can be found online at the USCCB website