Water is the source of life in the Christian tradition. In the first reading, the prophet Ezekiel sees a vision and finds abundance of life in the water, such as fish, and trees and other abundant life on the bank of the river. In the same way, Jesus himself takes the initiative to heal the paralysed man in order to give life in abundance. In the Gospel, St. John indicates to us the years of his sickness, thirty eight years. However, the paralysed man's hope for the fullness of life is fulfilled in and through Christ. God's grace is always with us, but our acquiescense is needed to receive it. God is with us: he is our source of life and he does not want us to go away from him.

Let us meditate on the healing touch of Jesus. We need God and we need one another. We are not made by God to be self-sufficient and alone. And we have our God, who does not need us, but who constantly seeks us out, who persistently comes forth, and waits for us to respond. Let us pray with the psalmist that God always be our refuge and strength in our distress.