Mass Readings: April 5

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

DEPTH CHARGE

"The water had risen so high it had become a river." –Ezekiel 47:5

Ezekiel's miraculous river symbolizes the Christian life. Jesus promised: "Whoever drinks the water I give him will never be thirsty; no, the water I give shall become a fountain within him, leaping up to provide eternal life" (Jn 4:14).

"There's a river of life flowing out through" us. The farther this river goes, the deeper it gets. We can understand this in two ways – chronologically and geographically. The longer we live as Christians, the deeper we become. Like Jesus, we continue to grow deeper in age, wisdom, and grace before God and men (Lk 2:52). When we grow old and die, we are not at the low point of our lives, but rather we race toward the finish line, "life on high in Christ Jesus" (Phil 3:14).

Ezekiel's river also deepens as it goes out farther geographically. Jesus called us to be His witnesses right where we are, then out to the surrounding area, and finally to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8). As we do this, we grow deeper in our faith. This Lent, let's not only "put out into deep water" (Lk 5:4) but also become deeper water.

PRAYER: Father, give me a deep, not shallow, relationship with You.
PROMISE: "Remember, now, you have been cured. Give up your sins so that something worse may not overtake you." –Jn 5:14
PRAISE: St. Vincent evangelized throughout Europe including Mohammedan Granada. He drew upon that "river of life" as he fought for the Church during extremely turbulent times.