Homily: Fourth Tuesday of Lent
Fourth Tuesday of Lent (Jn 5:1-16) “Why”
Bethesda was located by a damned-up stream where there was a pool of water. It was located at the gate of the city. The pool was like a lot of places in the world in that the waters were thought to have healing properties. I once went to a mineral spring in Colorado. A friend and I bathed in the waters after a week of hiking. The water was warm, and the water was soothing. I suppose the springs at Bethesda served a similar purpose.
Jesus asks, “Do you want to be healed?” What an odd question for Jesus to ask. What prompted him to ask it?
Maybe it was because the man did not seem to help himself. He’d been lying by the pool waiting for someone to plunge him in. It seems that every few minutes the water would stir. That was the time to go into the water.
He says that he has spent 38 years at that spot waiting for someone to help him into the pool. 38 years in the days Jesus lived was a lifetime. Why did he not ask someone to assist him into the water. Surely in 38 years a friend might have said, “Can I help you?” He did not seem to want to be healed very badly.
But how is this man different than so many of us? Most of us are reluctant to ask for help with many difficult tasks in our life. Somehow, we may think that the problems we are dealing with will get better on their own. Or pride may get in the way.
But if we break down and ask for the assistance we need, how many problems are solved. Many times, there are people who want to help us or there are people who have more expertise than us in certain areas. Lent is a time when we ask for help. We can ask for forgiveness and mercy. We can leave shame and guild behind. What a great relief to experience the Lord’s healing touch.
Reflection Questions:
1. Is there a problem that I can’t solve? What is it?
2. Why don’t I ask for help? Could I do that today?
Dear Parishioners,
We are collecting the “His Heart Our Hands” offertory fund drive during the Lenten season. Pledge weekend was last weekend. Have you turned in your card yet? You can do this at our website. There is a QR code you can use. You can mail in the card.
We would like to have 100% participation. Please turn your card in. It would be most helpful.
May our Lady of Peace pray for us,
Fr. Mark