water-falls?
“Then He brought me back to the entrance of the temple, and I saw water flowing out from beneath the threshold of the temple toward the east.” —Ezekiel 47:1
Ezekiel saw a vision of a miraculous trickle of water flowing from the Temple and becoming a great river of life. St. John, the apostle and evangelist, saw the same river as a picture of heaven (Rv 22:1ff).
By baptizing us and giving us a new nature, Jesus has made our bodies temples of the Holy Spirit (see 1 Cor 6:19). He promises that rivers of living water will flow out from Him and us (Jn 7:38). As temples of the Holy Spirit, we have within us the living waters of the Holy Spirit, “a fountain within [us], leaping up to provide eternal life” (Jn 4:14).
As temples of the Holy Spirit, our bodies are like movable baptismal fonts. Most people of the world at this point have not received the major event and transformation in life, which is Baptism. Even many of the two billion people who are baptized are not living their Baptisms. Under these circumstances, much of our world is comprised of cultures of death. Too many are the dry, dead bones which Ezekiel envisioned (Ez 37:1ff). In this desolation, we need the living waters of Baptism. We need temples of the Holy Spirit who help the Spirit send forth the waters of life. We need moving baptismal fonts bringing life to the most desolate places. Renew and live your Baptism fully.
Prayer: Father, make me as both a moving baptismal font and a moving tabernacle as I live fully the sacraments of initiation: Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy Eucharist.
Promise: “Remember, now, you have been cured. Give up your sins so that something worse may not overtake you.” —Jn 5:14
Praise: Martha invited her friend to church. The friend felt the presence of God and became Catholic.
Reference: (For related teachings on Baptismal Promises, listen to, download or order our CD 83-1, CD 83-3, CD 84-1 and CD 84-3 or DVD 83 or DVD 84 on our website.)
Rescript: "In accord with the Code of Canon Law, I hereby grant the Nihil Obstat for the publication One Bread, One Body covering the time period from February 01/2022 through March 31, 2022 Reverend Steve J. Angi, Chancellor, Vicar General, Archdiocese of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio June 16, 2021"
The Nihil Obstat ("Permission to Publish") is a declaration that a book or pamphlet is considered to be free of doctrinal or moral error. It is not implied that those who have granted the Nihil Obstat agree with the contents, opinions, or statements expressed.