Tuesday of the 4th Week of Lent

• First Reading – Ezekiel 47:1-9, 12: In a vision, Ezekiel sees water flowing from the temple, turning into a river that brings life wherever it goes. This river transforms salty sea water into fresh, supporting abundant life and vegetation. The trees along its banks bear fruit for food and leaves for healing, symbolizing restoration and life coming from God’s sanctuary.
• Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 46: God is a refuge and strength, always present to help in times of trouble. Additionally, the passage highlights the city of God, a holy place where the Most High dwells and the amazing deeds that God has done on earth.
• Gospel – John 5:1-16: Jesus healed a man who had been ill for thirty-eight years at a pool called Bethesda. Despite the man’s healing, the Jews criticized Jesus for performing the miracle on the Sabbath, leading to persecution against Jesus.

For Tuesday of the 4th Week of Lent, the readings from Ezekiel and John present several interconnected themes:

• Healing and Restoration: Both readings emphasize God’s power to heal and restore. In Ezekiel, the water flowing from the temple brings life and healing, symbolizing God’s restorative power. In the Gospel, Jesus heals a man who had been ill for thirty-eight years, showcasing His divine authority to restore health and wholeness.
• The Pool of Bethesda: The name Bethesda means “house of mercy” or “house of grace,” which could also be seen as a symbol of spiritual cleansing and renewal. Water is often used as a symbol of spiritual cleansing and renewal, and it is closely linked to the themes of faith, salvation, and eternal life.
• Life-Giving Water: The image of water is central in both readings, representing the life-giving and sustaining presence of God. In Ezekiel, the river flowing from the temple transforms the dead sea into fresh water, supporting abundant life. In John, the pool of Bethesda is the setting for Jesus’ miraculous healing, further emphasizing the theme of water as a source of life and healing.
• Divine Presence and Action: Both passages highlight the presence and action of God in the world. The temple in Ezekiel is the source of the life-giving water, indicating God’s presence in His sanctuary. In the Gospel, Jesus’ healing on the Sabbath reveals His identity as the Son of God, actively working in the world.
• Unity and diversity: The fact that the river in the first reading flows in different directions and brings life to different areas emphasizes the unity and diversity of God’s kingdom.
• Conflict Over Religious Observance: The Gospel reading introduces a theme of conflict regarding religious observance. Jesus heals on the Sabbath, which leads to criticism and persecution from the Jewish authorities. This highlights the tension between Jesus’ mission and the established religious practices of the time.
• Transformation and Renewal: The readings speak to the transformation and renewal that comes from God. Ezekiel’s vision of the river indicates a transformation of the natural world, while Jesus’ miracle signifies the personal transformation of the healed man. Both forms of transformation point to the broader theme of renewal through God’s intervention.

These themes for Tuesday of the 4th Week of Lent offer rich material for reflection, emphasizing God’s healing presence, the importance of faith in encountering God’s restorative power, and the transformative impact of divine action on both the natural world and individual lives.

The first reading and the gospel for Tuesday of the 4th week of Lent offer a powerful message of God’s love and compassion for his people. Both passages speak of God’s love and renewal, inviting us to open our hearts to his healing touch.

In John 5:1-16, Jesus encounters a man who had been an invalid for 38 years. When Jesus saw him lying there, he asked him if he wanted to be healed. The man replied that he had no one to help him into the pool when the waters were stirred. Jesus then instructed him to pick up his mat and walk, and the man was immediately healed. This passage teaches us the importance of faith and trust in God’s healing power.

In Ezekiel 47:1-9, 12, the prophet sees a vision of a river flowing from the temple of God, bringing life and renewal to the surrounding areas. The river grows in size, and the trees along its banks bear fruit for food and leaves for healing. This passage reminds us of God’s abundant provision and the importance of worship as the source of our spiritual renewal.

As Catholics, we are called to be people of faith and trust in God’s healing power. We are invited to come to Jesus with our brokenness, our pain, and our suffering, and to ask him for healing. Through the sacraments of the Church, especially the Sacrament of Reconciliation and the Eucharist, we receive the healing grace of God, which brings renewal and transformation to our lives.

In the same way, we are called to be people of worship, recognizing the importance of the Mass as the source of our spiritual renewal. The vision of the river in Ezekiel 47 reminds us of the many gifts we receive from God, available to us through our participation in the life of the Church.

May we be open to God’s healing touch, and may we come to him in faith and trust, seeking the renewal and transformation that only he can bring. May we also recognize the importance of worship as the source of our spiritual renewal, and may we participate fully in the life of the Church, drawing on the grace of God to strengthen us on our journey of faith.

Prayer

Dear Lord, grant us the faith to trust in your healing power and the grace to recognize the many gifts you provide for us. May we find renewal and transformation through our worship of you and may the Holy Spirit guide us on our journey of faith. Amen.

Word on Fire: Why So Reactive?

Bishop Robert Barron reflects on the Gospel for Tuesday of the 4th Week of Lent, focusing on Jesus healing a man paralyzed for thirty-eight years. Despite the miraculous healing, Jewish leaders react negatively, criticizing the man for carrying his mat on the Sabbath. Barron highlights this resistance to God’s work as indicative of humanity’s tendency to prioritize ego and oppression over divine ways. He urges us to recognize that God’s ways, which often challenge our own, are superior, reminding us that there is one greater than the Sabbath.

What date is Tuesday of the 4th Week of Lent?

The next date is Tuesday April 1, 2025.

What are the Mass readings for Tuesday of the 4th Week of Lent?

The Mass readings for Tuesday April 1, 2025 are:
First Reading – Ezekiel 47:1-9, 12: Ezekiel’s Vision of the Life-Giving River
Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 46: The Lord of Hosts, Our Stronghold
Gospel – John 5:1-16: Healing at the Pool of Bethesda 

What are the main themes of the readings for Tuesday of the 4th Week of Lent?

The readings for Tuesday of the 4th Week of Lent focus on healing and restoration, the life-giving power of water, the presence and action of God, conflict over religious observance, and transformation and renewal. These themes are explored through Ezekiel’s vision of water flowing from the temple and Jesus’ healing of a man at the pool of Bethesda.

How does the first reading for Tuesday of the 4th Week of Lent relate to the season of Lent?

The first reading from Ezekiel, for Tuesday of the 4th Week of Lent, relates to the Lenten themes of renewal and preparation. The vision of water bringing life to barren places serves as a metaphor for the spiritual renewal and rejuvenation that Lent invites us to experience, preparing us to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus at Easter.

Why is the healing at the pool of Bethesda significant for Tuesday of the 4th Week of Lent?

The Gospel reading for Tuesday of the 4th Week of Lent recounts Jesus healing a man at the pool of Bethesda, underscoring the theme of divine intervention and mercy. This miracle, performed on the Sabbath, highlights Jesus’ authority over traditional laws and his prioritization of compassion and healing, aligning with Lent’s focus on conversion and recognizing God’s work in our lives.

How can we apply the message of the readings for Tuesday of the 4th Week of Lent to our daily lives?

The readings for Tuesday of the 4th Week of Lent invite us to reflect on our need for spiritual healing and renewal. We can apply their message by opening ourselves to God’s transformative power, seeking ways to rejuvenate our faith life, and being agents of healing and compassion in the world, especially during the Lenten season.

What lesson can we learn from the conflict over Sabbath observance in the Gospel for Tuesday of the 4th Week of Lent?

The conflict over Sabbath observance in the Gospel for Tuesday of the 4th Week of Lent teaches us about the importance of discerning the spirit of the law beyond its letter. Jesus’ actions remind us that God’s commandments are rooted in love and mercy, encouraging us to prioritize human need and compassion over strict adherence to rules, especially when they hinder the expression of God’s love.