In today's first reading, the Prophet Ezekiel saw a vision of rivers of living water flowing from God's heavenly throne bringing life, healing and restoration to His people who were taken into exile in Babylon due to their idolatrous sins and social injustice. This vision reveals God's heart for a broken world. As the river flows, everything will live. "A large number of fish, fruit trees of all kinds serve for food and their leaves for healing" symbolises the love and blessing of God to recreate everything through His life-giving presence. We also long for this water of life to flow into our land to bear fruits of peace, justice and respect among people of diverse ethnic cultures and religious practices. This vision of the temple has been fulfilled by Jesus Christ through His passion, death and resurrection.

In today's Gospel reading, Jesus healed a man who had been paralysed and waiting to be healed for more than 38 years at the pool of Bethesda. Like the paralysed man, Jesus Christ challenges us, sometimes living in a state of 'paralysis', with probing questions, "Do you want to be healed? To be forgiven, set free from guilt and sin, from uncontrollable anger, and from hurtful desires?" Jesus Christ further challenges us to consider things that hold us back from His healing power and transforming grace that can set us free to live in wholeness, joy, and peace.

During this Lenten season, may we rise, pick up our 'mat' and walk, claiming the healing power of Jesus from waters of Baptism.