Water is life: Reflection for Tuesday, April 1, 2025

Water is life. Whether it is for a town, to quench a thirst, or to receive eternal life, water remains a pretty important element in life, but most especially the spiritual life. Readings for Today.

Water is Life

When I was younger, I really enjoyed the river that ran through the center of our town. This was really important, because this river changed the very center of our town, because it provided power for what was to become a significant industrial town.

But the most interesting time to see the river was in the spring, in the heart of the downtown, on a bridge over waterfalls that were known by the native Americans as “loud noise” falls. When the water was high, the falls made an impressive roar. It was awesome.

Now there was a dam that controlled the flow of the water, and so the dangers that might result in flooding were not really a problem for the town. And this “loud noise” falls was not the only one. Up the river was a second set of falls. While not as pretty, these falls were nonetheless beautiful in a different way.

The point of this is that in my growing up, I was never too far from water. The smaller river did in fact flow into a larger river, which ultimately flowed into the ocean. Where the two rivers met was a boat landing, and it seemed there was always activity there. It was a favorite destination for my father when he would take us out for a ride.

So it is not too difficult for me to imagine the scene we read about in today’s first reading. Water that moves from a trickle to a flowing river was easy for me to see in my mind, because in some ways that was my experience.

But the water Ezekiel experiences is no ordinary water. It becomes life giving water to everything it touches. And this life-giving weather is a tremendous source of hope not only for Ezekiel, but also for the people who are in exile. The sinfulness which resulted in the exile is not the final word.

No, the final word concerns the new life that God envisions for the people because of his mercy. He will call them back, give them life, and end the dryness of their lives. In fact the new life of the water is similar to the new life that will come to the dry bones.

With these images in mind, it is not difficult to see why this reading is chosen during the Lenten season. We too face a time where we are in need of God relieving our dryness too. Through prayer, fasting and almsgiving, God helps us to see where it is we need God’s new life.

And maybe at this time of Lent, there is cause for urgency. The season is moving right along, and soon it will be over. To prepare ourselves for the new life of Easter, we must make the best of this penitential season.

By entering into penance, we can see where it is we need God’s blessings. We can see where it is we can stretch our hearts to receive the new life God longs for us to experience. And not just for a season, like was true for the river in my town. No, this new life will last forever if we accept it.

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