THE RIVER OF HEALINGReading: Ezekiel 47: 1-12. Revelation22: 1-2
Both of these readings describe essentially the same vision, though the second is really the fulfilment of the first. They are remarkable visions given to two remarkable people, Ezekiel of the Old Covenant or Testament and John of the New. Both were prophetic voices, both suffered imprisonment, exile and much more for their faith, and both have left us with a wonderful legacy of hope and confidence that, no matter how dark things may seem, no matter how anguished this poor, ravaged earth, no matter the disasters, wars, cruelties, oppressions, God is and ever will be, and the river of the water of life still flows.
Ezekiel’s vision is of a river flowing from the Temple (which is the place where the Jewish people of old believed God dwelt supremely.) The stream flowed through the desert into the Jordan valley and on to the Dead Sea. In the vision Ezekiel saw that the water from the river would heal the salty, lifeless waters of that sea and make them pure, and everything that touched the waters of this river would live. There were trees along its banks whose fruit would be for food and whose leaves would be for healing.
John’s vision was also of the river of the water of life, this time not flowing from the old Temple but from the very ‘throne of God and of the Lamb.’ The image of the Lamb that had been killed but was now at the right hand side of God is a powerful reminder of how God is not separated or divorced from the pain of this world but is right in the centre of it, suffering with us. In John’s vision the trees along the river banks were also bearing fruit and the leaves were used for medicine to heal the nations.
Ezekiel saw into the future dimly but with that strange certainty of faith that this river of life was going to flow somehow from the very heart of God himself. John had seen with his own eyes how that river was going to flow, through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus and through the coming of the Holy Spirit. His vision and his affirmation of faith in the power of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit to heal not only individuals but nations, to bring that peace and shalom to the whole created order is for us, in varying degrees, shrouded in mystery. There are many times when we question and doubt and are nearly ready to give up. So much darkness stalks the earth. On the face of it often evil seems to have the upper hand. But if we believe, if we have staked our all on the faithfulness of the Lamb that was slain, then somehow we have to take this ‘unbelievable’ vision of hope on board as well and trust that in our own hearts and in the nations peace will come, God will be honoured, forgiving, reconciling love will flow, the beloved community is possible – and it begins with me, with you.