A River of Graces that Flows into our Lives

In today's first reading, Ezekiel 47: 1-9, 12, an angel brings Ezekiel to the entrance of the temple, where he sees water flowing from beneath the threshold  toward the east.  The angel walks out into the water with a measuring cord in his hand and invites Ezekiel to walk out as well. First the water is ankle deep, then knee deep, then up to his waist and then so deep that one can only swim in it. A river is flowing through it to salt waters, which it freshens.  Wherever the river flows, there is an abundant fish.  "Along the banks of the river, fruit trees of every kind shall grow; their leaves shall not fade, nor their fruit fail. Every month they shall bear fresh fruit, for they shall be watered by the flow from the sanctuary. Their fruit shall serve for food, and their leaves for medicine."

This passage speaks to me of the life-flowing waters of baptism.  It also speaks to me of the graces flowing to us from the altar upon which we celebrate the Eucharist and offer the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ in the consecrated hosts to God our Father.  By staying close to Jesus in the Eucharist and in prayer, we are staying close to the "Water" and to the "River," that is Christ Jesus, a "river"  of graces that serve as spiritual food and spiritual "medicine" --a "medicine" that restores our health in Christ Jesus.  In union with the Lord, we bear fruit that will last and our "leaves" never fade, that is our faith and hope and love are abundant, as the fish in the river that is spoken about in today's first reading.

In the Gospel of today's liturgy,John 5: 1-16, we are shown how waters of the pool of Bethesda act as a source of healing for the person who is first to enter the pool when it is stirred up. Jesus sees a man at Bethesda who has been ill for 38 years and asks him whether he wants to get well. Instead of answering Jesus' question with a "yes", he complains that no one puts him in the pool: "...[W]hile I am on my way, someone else gets down there before me."

Do I find excuses when I am presented with an opportunity to move from a crippled position or attitude? Do I respond to Jesus' invitations to a chance of new life by complaining about others not helping me? Or do I say "yes" to what is being offered to me?