The Fountain of Life
One
The Prophecy of the River
God gives Ezekiel a breathtaking vision: a future Temple from whose side flows a river of life-giving water. “Then he brought me back to the door of the temple; and behold, water was issuing from below the threshold of the temple toward the east… the water was flowing down from below the south end of the threshold of the temple… And wherever the river goes every living creature which swarms will live… Everything will live where the river goes.” Ezekiel 47:1-12.
This is no ordinary river. It is a prophetic sign of eternal life poured out upon the world. Wherever this river goes, it brings healing, renewal, and eternal life.
But when will this river flow? When will this prophecy be fulfilled?
Two
The Longing of Israel: The Feast of Tabernacles
The Jewish people lived in hope for the day Ezekiel foresaw: A day when living water would flow from the Temple, when all creation would be renewed, when salvation would reach the ends of the earth. This hope was expressed by the Jews each year in the Feast of Tabernacles, an eight-day celebration anticipating the coming of the Messiah and the outpouring of the Spirit. Each morning, priests drew water from the Pool of Siloam and poured it on the altar of the Temple, enacting the hope for the river of life. On the great and final day of the feast, the High Priest circled the altar seven times with a golden vessel of water and poured it out, while the people prayed for God to fulfill His promise.
At that climactic moment, as Ezekiel 47 was read aloud and their hearts longed for God to act, He did! "On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, 'If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, "Out of his heart shall flow rivers of living water."'” (John 7:37-38)
Jesus proclaims Himself the fulfillment of Ezekiel’s vision. He is the true and living Temple. The river of divine life flows not from the stone altar in Jerusalem, but from His own Sacred Heart. “I am the Temple. I am here. If you thirst for life, come to Me. Drink deeply and from your heart too will flow rivers of living water.”
Three
The River Flows from the Cross
When Jesus stood up and proclaimed: He who believes in me, as the scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart shall flow rivers of living water.’” John clarifies, “He said this about the Spirit, which those who believed in Him were to receive; for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.” (John 7:39)
When is Jesus glorified? On the Cross. On Palm Sunday, Jesus declared, “Destroy this Temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” (John 2:19) He spoke of the temple of His Body. Jesus Himself is the Temple of God. At Calvary, that Temple is opened, “But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water.” (John 19:34)
From His pierced Heart flows the water of Baptism and the blood of the Eucharist, the fountain of sacramental life in the Church. As the Church prays in the Preface of the Sacred Heart, “Lifted high on the Cross, Christ gave His life for us… From His wounded side flowed blood and water, the fountain of sacramental life in the Church. To His open Heart, the Savior invites all men to draw water in joy from the springs of salvation.”
The Catechism teaches, “The Body of the risen Christ is the spiritual temple from which the source of living water springs forth.” (CCC 1179)
From the Cross flows the River of Life: the Holy Spirit, poured into our hearts through the sacraments.
Four
The New and Living Temple
The first Temple, the Temple of Solomon, was destroyed. Even when rebuilt by Zerubbabel, it was never consecrated, never filled with the Holy Spirit, with God’s glory; the Spirit never returned (see Ezekiel 10; Ezra 6). It remained a hollow sign, pointing to something greater.
Isaiah mourned this absence, “O that you would rend the heavens and come down!” (Isaiah 64:1) And God did — at Jesus’ Baptism in the Jordan. “The heavens were torn open” (Mark 1:10) — not gently opened, but violently “rent” (schizo), as if the barrier between heaven and earth was shattered forever. The Spirit descends upon Jesus. He is the anointed Temple, consecrated by the Spirit, and from this Temple flows the River of Life. In His Passion, the veil of the Temple is torn. In His Resurrection, the new Temple is raised up. In His Sacraments, the Spirit flows to all who thirst.
The world has changed. The heavens are open. Christ is the Temple, and from His Heart made present in the Liturgy pours the River of the Holy Spirit. The Eucharistic prayer says, "You are indeed Holy, O Lord, the fount of all holiness."
Five
Prayer: Drinking Deeply from the Fountain of Life
The Eucharist is the Sacred Heart of Jesus, made present for us, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink… rivers of living water will flow from within him.” (John 7:37-38)
Yet it is possible to approach the Fountain and not drink. Why? Because without prayer, our souls remain closed. Pope Benedict XVI wrote, “Prayer is the self-opening of the human spirit to God.” (Jesus of Nazareth, Vol. 2, p. 233)
Without prayer, we may receive the sacraments but not drink the fullness of grace they offer. Receiving the sacraments without prayer is like standing at a well but refusing to drink. Meditation is how we draw water from the well. It opens our hearts to receive the Living Water, the Holy Spirit flowing from the Sacred Heart of Jesus in the Eucharist. “With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.” (Isaiah 12:3)
Jesus Christ is the Temple. From His pierced Heart flows the River of Life: the Holy Spirit, given through His Passion and poured out in the Sacraments. Through daily meditation, we open our hearts to drink deeply of this Living Water, until rivers of grace flow from within us as well, bringing life to the world.
Suggested Resolutions:
Choose one resolution for today to help you grow closer to God, or create your own. Here are some ideas to inspire you.
In the Eucharist, we can receive the Living Water that Ezekiel prophesied. This week, commit to receiving Him as often as possible.