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| "The Piscina Probatica or Pool of Bethesda" (left) and "The Man with an Infirmity of Thirty-Eight Years" (right) -- by James Tissot |
FIRST
READING: Ezekiel
47: 1 - 9, 12
1
And he brought me again to the gate of the house, and behold waters
issued out from under the threshold of the house toward the east: for
the forefront, of the house looked toward the east: but the waters
came down to the right side of the temple to the south part of the
altar.
2
And he led me out by the way of the north gate, and he caused me to
turn to the way without the outward gate to the way that looked
toward the east: and behold there ran out waters on the right side.
3
And when the man that had the line in his hand went out towards the
east, he measured a thousand cubits: and he brought me through the
water up to the ankles.
4
And again he measured a thousand, and he brought me through the water
up to the knees.
5
And he measured a thousand, and he brought me through the water up to
the loins. And he measured a thousand, and it was a torrent, which I
could not pass over: for the waters were risen so as to make a deep
torrent, which could not be passed over.
6
And he said to me: Surely thou hast seen, O son of man. And he
brought me out, and he caused me to turn to the bank of the torrent.
7
And when I had turned myself, behold on the bank of the torrent were
very many trees on both sides.
8
And he said to me: These waters that issue forth toward the hillocks
of sand to the east, and go down to the plains of the desert, shall
go into the sea, and shall go out, and the waters shall be healed.
9
And every living creature that creepeth whithersoever the torrent
shall come, shall live: and there shall be fishes in abundance after
these waters shall come thither, and they shall be healed, and all
things shall live to which the torrent shall come.
12
And by the torrent on the banks thereof on both sides shall grow all
trees that bear fruit: their leaf shall not fall off, and their fruit
shall not fail: every month shall they bring forth firstfruits,
because the waters thereof shall issue out of the sanctuary: and the
fruits thereof shall be for food, and the leaves thereof for
medicine.
PSALM:
Psalms 46:
2 - 3, 5 - 6, 8 - 9
2
Our God is our refuge and strength: a helper in troubles, which have
found us exceedingly.
3
Therefore we will not fear, when the earth shall be troubled; and the
mountains shall be removed into the heart of the sea.
5
The stream of the river maketh the city of God joyful: the most High
hath sanctified his own tabernacle.
6
God is in the midst thereof, it shall not be moved: God will help it
in the morning early.
8
The Lord of armies is with us: the God of Jacob is our protector.
9
Come and behold ye the works of the Lord: what wonders he hath done
upon earth.
GOSPEL:
John 5:
1 - 16
1
After these things was a festival day of the Jews, and Jesus went up
to Jerusalem.
2
Now there is at Jerusalem a pond, called Probatica, which in Hebrew
is named Bethsaida, having five porches.
3
In these lay a great multitude of sick, of blind, of lame, of
withered; waiting for the moving of the water.
4
And an angel of the Lord descended at certain times into the pond;
and the water was moved. And he that went down first into the pond
after the motion of the water, was made whole, of whatsoever
infirmity he lay under.
5
And there was a certain man there, that had been eight and thirty
years under his infirmity.
6
Him when Jesus had seen lying, and knew that he had been now a long
time, he saith to him: Wilt thou be made whole?
7
The infirm man answered him: Sir, I have no man, when the water is
troubled, to put me into the pond. For whilst I am coming, another
goeth down before me.
8
Jesus saith to him: Arise, take up thy bed, and walk.
9
And immediately the man was made whole: and he took up his bed, and
walked. And it was the sabbath that day.
10
The Jews therefore said to him that was healed: It is the sabbath; it
is not lawful for thee to take up thy bed.
11
He answered them: He that made me whole, he said to me, Take up thy
bed, and walk.
12
They asked him therefore: Who is that man who said to thee, Take up
thy bed, and walk?
13
But he who was healed, knew not who it was; for Jesus went aside from
the multitude standing in the place.
14
Afterwards, Jesus findeth him in the temple, and saith to him: Behold
thou art made whole: sin no more, lest some worse thing happen to
thee.
15
The man went his way, and told the Jews, that it was Jesus who had
made him whole.
16
Therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, because he did these things
on the sabbath.
