Longing

Tuesday of the Fourth Week of Lent
Readings may be found here
 
The vision of Ezekiel speaks powerfully to folks that live in arid or desert places. In such places, people are deeply aware that water is life. And in this vision, Ezekiel sees the Temple and Temple precincts transformed. Water is gushing forth from the Temple, streaming out into the desert, life bursting where ever it flows. It is a powerful image of hope realized, of longings fulfilled. 
 
While Ezekiel’s vision of life renewed involved the Temple, we now know that this vision spoke prophetically of the One Who would fulfill the vocation of Israel and the Temple, Jesus Christ. The Lord Jesus indicated as such, prophesying that He would destroy “this temple” “raise it again in three days.” (John 2:19). Jesus spoke to the Samaritan woman of the life-giving water that would flow from Him: “the water I shall give will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” (John 4:14). 
 
Now in chapter 5, we see Jesus heal a man at the Pool of Bethesda. For years the man has languished blind, lame, and crippled. Now the Lord Jesus, Compassion Itself, sees and lifts him from misery and restores him to life. Here we see the vision of Ezekiel realized as God’s mercy and grace pour forth from the One Sent from the Father. 
 
You and I might live in the desert, but we know what it is to long – maybe now more than ever before. We long for each other, we long for healing for the sick, we long for the hope that comes from God. And we long for the gift of the Eucharist. Maybe we should embrace that longing and allow it to turn us to the Jesus Who is our water in the desert, our Life in the valley of shadow.