Lent is water

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40 Shades of Lent by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Tuesday, Fourth Week in Lent, 01 April 2025
Ezekiel 47:1-9, 12     + + +     John 5:1-16

Thank you dear Jesus
for the Lenten reminder of
our Baptism,
of the sign of water
in our faith
and in our lives;
Lent is water
that cleanses us,
refreshes us,
hydrates us to keep us
moving in your mission.

But what I like most,
dear Jesus is your healing
of the man seated at the pool
of Bethesda for 38 years -
like him, Jesus, I have been waiting
for healing,
for blessing,
for your coming!
Now you have come,
still many among us refuse 
to welcome you
nor accept you;
instead, they question your
healing on a sabbath
with others still shouting
for freedom for Barabbas.

How sad,
dear Jesus that until now
there are people who rejoice
with death and evil and sin;
cleanse those who rejoice
in all forms of killing
especially of the innocent
and young, of the poor
and disadvantaged;
cleanse us all in your waters,
Jesus so that like in the vision 
of Ezekiel, we may bloom too
as a nation close to God,
upholding life and justice
always.
Amen.