DATE : 16/3/2021
EVENT : Tuesday of the Fourth Week of Lent
COLOUR:Violet
READINGS : Ezekiel 47:1-9,12; Resp. Psalm 45:2-3,5-6,8-9; John 5:1-3,5-16.
THEME: COME TO BETHESDA
Greetings beloved people of God. I welcome you to "My Catholic Homily Digest". On this Sixteenth day of March, I wish to reflect with you on the theme: " Come To Bethesda". Beloved in Christ, if you have ever been to a general hospital before, you will discover that it is a place for all kinds of sick people, the lame, the blind, the crippled, the leprous patient, the cancer patient, the infectious disease patient, the accident victims and all what have you. In fact, often times, if I want to reflect on the frailty of the human body, and the value of health, I usually take a stroll to the general hospital close to me. However, just as the general hospital is filled with all kinds of sick patients, hoping to be cured, so also is the Church always filled with all kinds of sick souls (sinners), fornicators, idolaters, liars, thieves, murderers, cheaters, backbiters, deceivers, abortionists, betrayers, hypocrites and all what have you. Also waiting to be healed. Thus, there is a correlation between the general hospital and the Church.
Dearest in Christ, the Gospel reading of today, John 5:1-3, 5-16 falls with the larger context of John chapters 1:1-17:26, exegetically called the book of signs ( semeion ). In contrast to John 18:1-21:25, which is known by Biblical scholars as the book of glory. Now, from the Gospel reading of today, we heard that there was a sheep pool in Jerusalem, called Bethesda, and that many sick people cloistered around it, anxiously waiting to be the first to step into the pool and be healed, whenever the angel of healing, stirred the water. Now, the Hebrew word, ' Bethesda ', means 'The house of mercy'. So, it is not coincidence that the pool which is near the temple and whose water flows across the temple, grants healing to anyone who is first to step into it at the hour of grace. Thus, when Jesus, the source of grace himself, appeared at the scene, and saw the paralyzed man who has been there for 38 years, he took pity on him and healed.
Child of God, there is a connection between the event which often takes place at the pool of Bethesda whenever the water is stirred, and the event which often takes place in the Church (house of mercy), at Mass, whenever the priest elevates the consecrated host. At the pool of Bethesda, the first sick person to step into the pool when it is stirred by the angel, receives healing. At the elevation of the Blessed Sacrament at Mass, the most contrite sinner receives pardon, mercy and spiritual healing. At Bethesda, Jesus walked up to the paralyzed man and healed him. At Mass, Jesus comes to us to heal our paralysis. At Bethesda, Jesus forgave the paralyzed man and warned him not to sin again else his case will be worsened. At Mass, Jesus forgives us our shortcomings and bids us to stay clear of sins. The pool is called Bethesda, 'house of mercy'. The Church is also a place where we go to receive mercy. The pool of Bethesda had all kinds of sick people, the lame, blind, deaf and paralyzed. The church of Christ contains all kinds of sick souls, the thief, the murderer, the fornicator, the liar, the abuser. At Bethesda, many of the sick people have been there for years and were unable to access the healing. In the Church there are so many sick souls who have been Christians for dunken years, yet they have not received salvation. I pray that, like the paralyzed man in the Gospel of today, we may experience Jesus personally at the house of mercy, the Church, this Lenten season. God bless you.
Oh that today you would listen to his voice harden not your hearts (Ps.95:7-8).
LET US PRAY : Lord Jesus, help me to receive and experience you personally whenever your priest elevates you in the Blessed Sacrament...
The Lord be with you....... and with your Spirit.
May Almighty God bless you in the Name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit ....Amen
@ Fada Emmanuel Nnamdi Megwara, MSP. ⛪
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