DEEPER

He measured off another thousand, but now it was a river that I could not cross, because the water had risen and was deep enough to swim in—a river that no one could cross. – Ezekiel 47:5

I had the privilege of serving in Bo Sanchez’s Holy Week 2018 retreat titled “Deeper.” I was one of four speakers in a panel discussion where Bo interviewed us about worship.

After our part came prayer ministry time where we each got to pray for the crowd in between powerful worship songs. As the retreat concluded, all of us sang “Into the Deep” by Citipoint. Then we speakers went down the stage, removed our shoes, and stepped into the shallow pool that was part of the stage design.

As we sang the bridge of the song with our feet submerged in the pool, I felt like the water was rising—to my knees, to my waist, until I was completely submerged, just like the wonderful stream in Ezekiel 47. My tears flowed as the Lord gave me a sensation of taking me deeper in my relationship with Him.

Later, I reflected on the role of sacramentals and symbols in our faith. They intensify our experience of God. They are not just meaningless props but serve to concretize spiritual truths. Rissa Singson Kawpeng (rissakawpeng@gmail.com)

Reflect: Signs and symbols help us see God in our physical world. How can you use them to deepen your faith in Him?

Jesus, open my senses to Your presence. When I smell incense at Mass, let it remind me that my praises rise as incense before You. When I see the bread and wine raised during consecration, let me see Your Body and Blood offered up for me.

St. Francis of Paola, hermit, pray for us.

The more we immerse ourselves in the graces and blessings of God, the more abundant they become because we are able to discern and see them. Spiritual writers talk about the importance of moments of grace. As we embrace such moments, the easier it becomes to discern them.

Ezekiel 47:1-9, 12

1 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; the water flowed down from the right side of the temple, south of the altar. 2 He led me outside by the north gate, and around to the outer gate facing the east, where I saw water trickling from the right side. 3 Then when he had walked off to the east with a measuring cord in his hand, he measured off a thousand cubits and had me wade through the water, which was ankle-deep. 4 He measured off another thousand and once more had me wade through the water, which was now knee-deep. Again he measured off a thousand and had me wade; the water was up to my waist. 5 Once more he measured off a thousand, but there was now a river through which I could not wade; for the water had risen so high it had become a river that could not be crossed except by swimming. 6 He asked me, “Have you seen this, son of man?” Then he brought me to the bank of the river, where he had me sit. 7 Along the bank of the river I saw very many trees on both sides. 8 He said to me, “This water flows into the eastern district down upon the Arabah, and empties into the sea, the salt waters, which it makes fresh. 9 Wherever the river flows, every sort of living creature that can multiply shall live, and there shall be abundant fish, for wherever this water comes the sea shall be made fresh. 12 Along both banks of the river, fruit trees of every kind shall grow; their leaves shall not fade, nor their fruit fail. Every month they shall bear fresh fruit, for they shall be watered by the flow from the sanctuary. Their fruit shall serve for food, and their leaves for medicine.”

Psalm 46:2-3, 5-6, 8-9

R: The Lord of hosts is with us; our stronghold is the God of Jacob.

2 God is our refuge and our strength, an ever-present help in distress. 3 Therefore we fear not, though the earth be shaken and mountains plunge into the depths of the sea. (R) 5 There is a stream whose runlets gladden the city of God, the holy dwelling of the Most High. 6 God is in its midst; it shall not be disturbed; God will help it at the break of dawn. (R) 8 The Lord of hosts is with us; our stronghold is the God of Jacob. 9 Come! behold the deeds of the Lord, the astounding things he has wrought on earth. (R)

GOSPEL

The Jews during Jesus’ time must have been obsessed with the observance of the Sabbath. Today, we need to learn that there is right and wrong in the moral life, but moral decisions are not binary in nature. There is a big grey area in the context of the act that a person needs to consider, and so can be different for different people. Let us listen to our conscience about our decisions and leave others to also consult theirs.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

A clean heart create for me, O God; give me back the joy of your salvation.

John 5:1-16

1 There was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 2 Now there is in Jerusalem at the Sheep Gate a pool called in Hebrew Bethesda, with five porticoes. 3 In these lay a large number of ill, blind, lame, and crippled. [4] 4-5 One man was there who had been ill for thirty-eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had been ill for a long time, he said to him, “Do you want to be well?” 7 The sick man answered him, “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; while I am on my way, someone else gets down there before me.” 8 Jesus said to him, “Rise, take up your mat, and walk.” 9 Immediately the man became well, took up his mat, and walked. Now that day was a sabbath. 10 So the Jews said to the man who was cured, “It is the sabbath, and it is not lawful for you to carry your mat.” 11 He answered them, “The man who made me well told me, ‘Take up your mat and walk.’” 12 They asked him, “Who is the man who told you, ‘Take it up and walk’?” 13 The man who was healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had slipped away, since there was a crowd there. 14 After this Jesus found him in the temple area and said to him, “Look, you are well; do not sin any more, so that nothing worse may happen to you.” 15 The man went and told the Jews that Jesus was the one who had made him well. 16 Therefore, the Jews began to persecute Jesus because he did this on a Sabbath.

think: Do you consult God about the decisions you make? How?

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T O D A Y’S BLESSING LIST 

Read the Bible in one year - Exodus 10-12  

WHAT A QUESTION

I am very particular about the questions that people ask me. I usually respond to queries posed to me. But there are also times when I ask myself whether to answer a question or not. These are moments when the answer is already clear and can be seen in the situation a person is in.

At first, I found it strange that Jesus still had to ask the crippled man the question, “Do you want to be well?” Didn’t He see the man struggling to reach the pool for healing? Was it not obvious to Him that the man needed someone to assist him to get into the pool? Didn’t He notice the man’s frustration because no one helps him? Was it not obvious to Jesus that the man desired to be healed? But Jesus still asked the crippled man if he wanted to be well. Of course, he wanted to be well!

Jesus’ question may seem strange, but I feel that it is not about what we want to happen to us—which He already knows. Rather, Jesus asks how much faith and trust are we willing to give Him as He continues to work in our daily lives. Jesus already knows our needs and desires. But we have to ask ourselves if we are ready to let go of our problems, failures, and insecurities, and place our trust and faith in Him. This is the question we need to ask ourselves every moment.

And as we answer, can we say that we have let everything go and surrendered our lives to God’s love and mercy? Fr. Joel Victorino

------- REFLECTION QUESTIONS -------

When in a difficult situation, do you allow Jesus to ask you, “Do you want Me to do this for you?” Do you trustingly say to Him, “Yes, Lord, I want You to do it for me”?

 

Dear Lord, I have many worries and concerns. I surrender them at Your feet. Let Your will be done. Amen.

Today, I pray for: ______________________________