Tuesday of the 4th Week of Lent
Tuesday March 17, 2026
Daily Mass Readings for 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.
Upcoming dates: March 17, 2026, March 9, 2027, March 28, 2028, March 13, 2029, April 2, 2030, March 9, 2032, March 29, 2033
Jesus said to him, “Rise, take up your mat, and walk.” Immediately the man became well, took up his mat, and walked.
John 5:8-9
Themes for the Readings for Tuesday of the 4th Week of Lent
Tuesday of the 4th Week of Lent highlights themes of healing, renewal, and life through God’s grace. The readings call us to trust in God’s power to restore what is broken and give life to what seems dead.
- God’s life-giving water: Ezekiel speaks of water flowing from the temple, bringing life and growth wherever it goes. This shows God’s grace restores and nourishes both nature and people.
- Healing through faith: The Gospel tells of a man healed after trusting in Jesus. It reminds us that faith is key to receiving the healing God offers.
- New life in God: The waters in Ezekiel’s vision make salty water fresh and allow plants to flourish. This shows how God brings new life to all who trust in Him.
- God’s power to heal: Jesus heals the man by the pool, showing His authority over sickness. This reminds us of God’s mercy and ability to heal us physically and spiritually.
- Renewal of the soul: Ezekiel’s vision and the healing in the Gospel both point to inner renewal. God’s grace not only heals bodies but also restores hearts to live for Him.
- God’s constant mercy: The man at the pool had waited many years, but Jesus healed him in an instant. This shows God’s mercy comes at the right time and brings hope to those who feel forgotten.
Tuesday of the 4th Week of Lent encourages trust in God’s grace and power. It reminds us that God heals, restores, and gives life to all who seek Him.
Reflection for Tuesday of the 4th Week of Lent
Tuesday of the 4th Week of Lent invites us to reflect on God’s grace and healing power. The readings highlight the themes of life, mercy, and restoration, reminding us of God’s care for all creation and for each of us. These reflections help us consider how God works to renew and restore our lives.
Flowing Water and New Life
The first reading for Tuesday of the 4th Week of Lent describes water flowing from the temple, bringing life wherever it goes. This water turns dry land into fertile ground and salty seas into fresh, life-sustaining waters. Trees grow along its banks, providing fruit for food and leaves for healing.
This vision reminds us that God’s grace brings life and renewal to every part of our lives. Just as water refreshes the earth, God’s grace refreshes our souls. It nourishes our hearts, gives us strength, and helps us to grow in faith.
We can reflect on how we need this grace in our lives. Are there areas in our hearts that feel dry or lifeless? Trust that God’s grace can restore what is broken and bring life where there is struggle.
A Place of Mercy and Renewal
The name Bethesda in the Gospel means “house of mercy” or “house of grace.” It was a pool where people hoped to be healed, but it also symbolizes spiritual cleansing and renewal. Water often represents cleansing in Scripture, pointing to the ways God washes away sin and restores our hearts.
In the Gospel for Tuesday of the 4th Week of Lent, Jesus heals a man at Bethesda who has been waiting for years. The man had no one to help him, but Jesus saw him and gave him new hope. This healing was more than physical; it was a sign of God’s mercy reaching into the man’s life.
We, too, can find healing and renewal in God’s mercy. Like the man at Bethesda, we need to bring our needs to God and trust Him to make us whole. Lent is a perfect time to ask for this cleansing and to find renewal through prayer and the sacraments.
God’s Grace Restores All Things
Both readings for Tuesday of the 4th Week of Lent speak of restoration. In Ezekiel, the water restores the land and brings life where there was barrenness. In the Gospel, Jesus restores health to a man who had been sick for many years. These stories show that God has the power to heal and renew every part of life.
Restoration means that what was once broken is made whole again. It reminds us that God’s mercy can heal not only physical illness but also spiritual wounds. When we feel weak, burdened, or lost, we can trust that God’s grace can lift us up and restore our strength.
These readings encourage us to reflect on how we need restoration. Do we feel broken or distant from God? Tuesday of the 4th Week of Lent is a call to turn to Him for healing and to let Him make us whole again.
Tuesday of the 4th Week of Lent encourages us to trust in God’s mercy and grace. Whether through the flowing water in Ezekiel’s vision or the healing at the pool of Bethesda, we see how God brings life and hope. Let us open our hearts to His grace and seek the renewal He offers.
Prayer
Lord, thank You for Your healing and mercy. You restore life where there is brokenness and bring hope to those who trust in You. Help us to grow in faith and rely on Your care. May Your grace refresh our hearts and strengthen us each day. Amen.
Reflection Questions
- How can you open your heart to God’s grace to bring new life to an area where you feel weak or discouraged?
- What does the story of the healing at Bethesda teach you about God’s care for you?
- Are there ways you can trust God more deeply for restoration in your life?
- How do the images of water in Ezekiel’s vision speak to your spiritual journey?
Homilies and Commentaries for Tuesday of the 4th Week of Lent
Healing the Soul
Bishop Robert Barron reflects on Jesus healing a man who was sick for thirty-eight years. But beyond physical healing, Jesus also brings spiritual healing. Much of his ministry helped people to see, hear, walk, and live freely in God. Jesus was known as the Savior, the one who brings wholeness and freedom, especially to the soul.
On Tuesday of the 4th Week of Lent, Bishop Barron explains that the soul is the deepest part of who we are—the place where we meet God. When the soul is healthy, it is rooted in God and filled with meaning. Jesus came not only to heal bodies but to restore the soul to this living relationship with God. This is true healing, and it leads to a new kind of life.
Take the Plunge
The Gospel tells of a man who waited 38 years beside the pool at Bethesda, hoping to be healed. When Jesus sees him, he asks no questions—he simply says, “Get up and walk.” The man is healed immediately. But this happened on the Sabbath, and it upset the religious leaders. They were more concerned about the rules than the healing itself. This moment marks the beginning of their plan to kill Jesus.
On Tuesday of the 4th Week of Lent, Deacon Miller invites us to reflect on how long we’ve been waiting without taking action. Like the man by the pool, we may find excuses or feel stuck, but God calls us to move. Lent is a time to act—to pray more, love more, forgive more. Deacon Miller reminds us that being Catholic is about doing, not just waiting. It’s time to take the plunge and grow closer to God.
Find Your Spiritual Cure
The Gospel for Tuesday of the 4th Week of Lent tells of a man who had been sick for 38 years. He waited near the healing waters but had no one to help him. Jesus sees his struggle and heals him. This story is about more than physical sickness. It reminds us of our spiritual sickness, the struggles we carry for years without asking for healing.
Matthew Kelly points out that many people carry spiritual illness without knowing it. If we don’t recognize our need for healing, we won’t look for the cure. God wants to heal us, but we have to come to Him with open hearts. This story invites us to reflect on where we need healing and to ask God for help.
Bethesda
In this reflection for Tuesday of the 4th Week of Lent, Sr. Megan McElroy shares the story of Jesus healing a man who had been paralyzed for 38 years. The man waited at the pool of Bethesda but had no one to help him into the water. Jesus told him to get up, and he was healed. This act of healing happened on the Sabbath, which led to criticism from the Jewish leaders.
Sr. Megan compares this man’s suffering to how many people feel today—tired, overwhelmed, and helpless in the face of violence, injustice, and disaster. But she also sees signs of hope in people who speak out and act for justice. These actions remind her that healing is still possible. We are called to be the face of God, to offer mercy and hope. Like the man in the gospel, we are invited to rise, take up our mats, and help bring healing to the world.
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.
Bishop 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.
Frequently Asked Questions for Tuesday of the 4th Week of Lent
What date is Tuesday of the 4th Week of Lent?
The next date is Tuesday March 17, 2026.
What are the Mass readings for Tuesday of the 4th Week of Lent?
The Mass readings for Tuesday March 17, 2026 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 does the water in Ezekiel’s vision mean?
The water flowing from the temple in Ezekiel’s vision shows how God gives life and growth. It reminds us that God’s grace brings healing and renewal to the world and to our hearts.
Why does the water bring life wherever it goes?
The water represents God’s grace, which refreshes and restores. Just as plants and creatures thrive near water, we grow when we live in God’s presence.
How does Ezekiel’s vision apply to us?
Ezekiel’s vision encourages us to trust in God’s power to bring life to every area of our lives. It reminds us to stay close to God, just as the trees flourish near the water.
What lesson does the Gospel healing teach?
The healing shows that Jesus has the power to make people whole. It reminds us to trust in Jesus when we feel broken or weak.
Why did Jesus choose to heal the man by the pool?
The man was unable to help himself, and Jesus saw his need. This shows us that God sees our struggles and cares for us.
How can we trust in God’s mercy like the man by the pool?
We can pray and ask God for help, even when answers seem far away. The man waited a long time, but God’s timing brought him healing.
What does the healing of the man teach us about faith?
The man listened to Jesus and obeyed His command. This shows that faith means trusting God and acting on His word.
How can we apply the readings to our lives?
We can trust in God to heal our weaknesses and renew our spirits. These readings remind us to rely on God’s grace in both small and big ways.
What does Tuesday of the 4th Week of Lent teach about hope?
The readings show that God’s grace brings life and renewal even in difficult situations. They remind us to have hope and trust in God’s power to heal and restore.
What is the main message of Tuesday of the 4th Week of Lent?
The main message is that God brings life, healing, and renewal through His grace. These readings encourage us to trust in His care for us.
Life-Giving Grace
Tuesday of the 4th Week of Lent brings a message of healing and renewal. The first reading from Ezekiel describes water flowing from the temple, bringing life to everything it touches. This water turns salty seas fresh and creates an environment where trees flourish and bear fruit. It is a sign of how God restores and renews all things through His grace.
The Gospel tells the story of a man healed by Jesus near a pool in Jerusalem. He had been sick for many years and had no one to help him. Jesus saw his need and healed him with a word. This shows the power of God to bring healing and new life to those who trust in Him.
The readings encourage us to reflect on God’s mercy and care. Just as the water in Ezekiel’s vision gave life to the land, God’s grace can restore us when we feel weak or lost. Like the man by the pool, we can turn to Jesus for healing and strength.
Your Turn
Tuesday of the 4th Week of Lent is a time to reflect on God’s healing and grace. The readings remind us to trust in God when we feel weak or need help. Take time to think about how these readings speak to you. Have you experienced healing or renewal in your life?
Share your thoughts and experiences in the comment section. Your story might inspire someone else to trust in God’s care.
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