[ Today's Readings ]
One man was there who had been ill for thirty-eight years.
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?"
After thirty-eight years, does this man still want to be well, does he even care anymore or has he abandoned all hope?
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."
He has not abandoned hope, even though the hope itself is painful. He knows there is water which can heal him. But seeing that water touch one person after another and not himself is hard. But even though it takes thirty-eight years his hope does not disappoint.
Jesus said to him, "Rise, take up your mat, and walk."
Immediately the man became well, took up his mat, and walked.
The true stream whose runlets gladden the city of God is now unleashed. It is not the pool of Bethesda that the ill man needs. It is the water of life that comes from Jesus.
"This water flows into the eastern district down upon the Arabah,
and empties into the sea, the salt waters, which it makes fresh.
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.
God's timing always has a component of mystery. Why did this man wait thirty-eight years? We can't say with certainty. But was it worth waiting for, worth continuing to hope against hope? Absolutely. So too for us. If there are places in our lives that are dry and in need of the water of life let us continue to ask Jesus with faith and expectation knowing that he wants to give us that water always.
God is our refuge and our strength,
an ever-present help in distress.
Therefore we fear not, though the earth be shaken
and mountains plunge into the depths of the sea.
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