Mass Readings for March 12, 2024

Ezekiel 47:1-9,12
Psalms 46:2-3,5-6,8-9
John 5:1-16

Ezekiel 47:1-9,12
(1) He brought me back to the door of the house; and behold, waters flowed out from under the threshold of the house eastward, for the front of the house faced toward the east. The waters came down from underneath, from the right side of the house, on the south of the altar. (2) Then he brought me out by the way of the gate northward, and led me around by the way outside to the outer gate, by the way of the gate that looks toward the east. Behold, waters ran out on the right side. (3) When the man went out eastward with the line in his hand, he measured one thousand cubits, and he caused me to pass through the waters, waters that were to the ankles. (4) Again he measured one thousand, and caused me to pass through the waters, waters that were to the knees. Again he measured one thousand, and caused me to pass through waters that were to the waist. (5) Afterward he measured one thousand; and it was a river that I could not pass through; for the waters had risen, waters to swim in, a river that could not be walked through. (6) He said to me, “Son of man, have you seen?” Then he brought me, and caused me to return to the bank of the river. (7) Now when I had returned, behold, on the bank of the river were very many trees on the one side and on the other. (8) Then he said to me, “These waters flow out toward the eastern region, and will go down into the Arabah. Then they will go toward the sea; and flow into the sea which will be made to flow out; and the waters will be healed. (9) It will happen, that every living creature which swarms, in every place where the rivers come, will live. Then there will be a very great multitude of fish; for these waters have come there, and the waters of the sea will be healed, and everything will live wherever the river comes. (12) By the river on its bank, on this side and on that side, will grow every tree for food, whose leaf won’t wither, neither will its fruit fail. It will produce new fruit every month, because its waters issue out of the sanctuary. Its fruit will be for food, and its leaf for healing.”

Psalms 46:2-3,5-6,8-9
(2) Therefore we won’t be afraid, though the earth changes, though the mountains are shaken into the heart of the seas; (3) though its waters roar and are troubled, though the mountains tremble with their swelling. Selah. (5) God is within her. She shall not be moved. God will help her at dawn. (6) The nations raged. The kingdoms were moved. He lifted his voice, and the earth melted. (8) Come, see Yahweh’s works, what desolations he has made in the earth. (9) He makes wars cease to the end of the earth. He breaks the bow, and shatters the spear. He burns the chariots in the fire.

John 5:1-16
(1) After these things, there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. (2) Now in Jerusalem by the sheep gate, there is a pool, which is called in Hebrew, “Bethesda”, having five porches. (3) In these lay a great multitude of those who were sick, blind, lame, or paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water; (4) for an angel went down at certain times into the pool, and stirred up the water. Whoever stepped in first after the stirring of the water was healed of whatever disease he had. (5) A certain man was there, who had been sick for thirty-eight years. (6) When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he had been sick for a long time, he asked him, “Do you want to be made well?” (7) The sick man answered him, “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, but while I’m coming, another steps down before me.” (8) Jesus said to him, “Arise, take up your mat, and walk.” (9) Immediately, the man was made well, and took up his mat and walked. Now it was the Sabbath on that day. (10) So the Jews said to him who was cured, “It is the Sabbath. It is not lawful for you to carry the mat.” (11) He answered them, “He who made me well, the same said to me, ‘Take up your mat, and walk.’” (12) Then they asked him, “Who is the man who said to you, ‘Take up your mat, and walk’?” (13) But he who was healed didn’t know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, a crowd being in the place. (14) Afterward Jesus found him in the temple, and said to him, “Behold, you are made well. Sin no more, so that nothing worse happens to you.” (15) The man went away, and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well. (16) For this cause the Jews persecuted Jesus, and sought to kill him, because he did these things on the Sabbath.