Religious Education
Faith Life Inquiry
Caith Malone
Today’s reading is from the prophet Ezekiel.
(Ezek 47:1-2,8-9,12)
Then he brought me back to the entrance of the temple; there, water was flowing from below the threshold of the temple towards the east (for the temple faced east); and the water was flowing down from below the south end of the threshold of the temple, south of the altar.
Then he brought me out by way of the north gate and led me round on the outside to the outer gate that faces towards the east and the water was coming out on the south side.
He said to me, ‘This water flows towards the eastern region and goes down into the Arabah; and when it enters the sea, the sea of stagnant waters, the water will become fresh.
Wherever the river goes, every living creature that swarms will live, and there will be very many fish, once these waters reach there.
It will become fresh; and everything will live where the river goes.
On the banks, on both sides of the river, there will grow all kinds of trees for food.
Their leaves will not wither nor their fruit fail, but they will bear fresh fruit every month, because the water for them flows from the sanctuary.
Their fruit will be for food, and their leaves for healing.’
The word of the Lord,
Thanks be to God.
At a time of exile and national disaster in the Middle East the prophet Ezekiel foresees the temple in Jerusalem being renewed.
He describes beautifully an image of life and peace in the Middle East, north, south, east and west.
He gives a powerful message of hope.
In these difficult times across our world, do you hear any messages of hope and encouragement from God’s word?
Ezekiel sees living water flowing through a parched land, allowing healing trees to grow.
Have any of God’s words from scripture brought you hope or healing or growth?
Imagine yourself in a place of living water and trees bearing healing fruit and this healing being extended to all who need peace….
Take time to speak to God, sharing whatever is in your mind and heart.
We pray for the living water of Christ to flow into Israel bringing healing, hope and peace.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end
Amen.🙏
Catholic Identity news
Pope Francis on the War in Israel
Pope Francis appeals ‘in the name of God’ for a ‘ceasefire’ in the Israeli-Palestinian war
Pope Francis concluded his appeal with these words: “Let us pray that people have the courage to say ‘enough!’”
As we celebrate Remembrance Day here in Australia, let us join Pope Francis in prayer for peace in the Middle East.
Joe Biden and Pope Francis discuss war in Israel and Gaza in 20-minute phone call
Pope Francis announced that he would travel to Dubai for COP28.
This will make him the first pontiff to attend the U.N. climate meeting since it was founded in 1995. This comes just after the release of “Laudate Deum,” an apostolic exhortation which follows his 2015 encyclical on care for the common home, “Laudato Si’.”
In “Laudate Deum,” Francis explored the successes and failures of past climate conferences, and he sees COP28 as a “make or break moment” for humanity and the climate. The Pope believes in the need for a “faster transition to clean energy sources like wind and solar and the abandonment of fossil fuels,” as well as a cultural change in how we treat our planet.
Interview: Pope Francis’ presence at COP28 climate conference in Dubai is ‘without precedence’