At a recent meeting we discussed the issue of so many young adults leaving the Church. One participant suggested a solution that began with the words, “What they need to do is…” Such a comment betrays the belief that the Church is the hierarchy and confined to what happens on parish property. Such thinking severely limits the work that God wants to do in the world.
Today we read the prophecy of Ezekiel in which he described an amazing kind of water that flows out of the Temple (Ezekiel 47: 1-9,12).
“I saw water flowing out from beneath the threshold of the temple toward the east…I saw water trickling…(he) had me wade through the water, which was ankle deep. He measured off a thousand cubits and had me wade through the water, which was now knee-deep.”
What was this strange kind of water that seeped out of the temple and grew deeper the more it flowed? As Ezekiel walked further away, the water became waist-deep, and eventually so deep that he had to swim to get across the new river that was being formed.
Not only did this “living water” get deeper, it also had miraculous powers.
“The water flows…down upon the Arabah, and empties into the sea, the salt waters, which it makes fresh. Wherever the river flows, every sort of living creature that can multiply shall live…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.”
What was God revealing to Ezekiel? From the dwelling place of God a life-giving water would flow that makes saltiness fresh, multiplication of life, and an amazing growth of fruit. It has the power to solve all the world’s problems. Ezekiel went on to explain that the leaves of these miracle trees would be used for medicine.
Ezekiel’s prophecy is fulfilled in the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Remember the story of Jesus and the Samaritan woman, in which Jesus gave her a drink of his “living water” that washed away her sins and gave her new life. He was giving her a dose of the Holy Spirit. We know that on the day of Pentecost this “miracle water,” the Holy Spirit, was poured into the hearts of the group of that assembled in the upper room. Then, through them, thousands were converted, miracles began to take place, and a new social order was established. Since that time, this living water has poured out in such a spectacular way that millions, of people have been fed and healed by it.
Let us not be narrow in interpreting this parable in terms of the Church as represented by the buildings and personnel down the street. St. Paul told us that we, ourselves, are “temples of the Holy Spirit.” When we allow ourselves to be filled with the Holy Spirit, we become the sanctuary from which the living waters of the Holy Spirit continue to flow. His power in us makes salty lives fresh, hungry people filled, and sick people healed.
When we talk, as the person did at our meeting, in terms of the Church as “what they need to do,” we weaken the potential of God’s work on earth. Let us see ourselves as “tributaries” of this great river that brings new life “wherever it flows.”
“There is a stream whose runlets gladden the city of God, the holy dwelling of the Most High” (Ps 46:5).
