Easter 6c 2025; 25 May
John 5:1-9; Jack Hardaway
STIRRING THE WATER
I love swimming.
The summer camp for our diocese, Camp Gravatt, has a dark murky lake where the campers swim. The camp is located in the Pine Hills near Aiken, so it is always hot and humid.
I help out as a chaplain, most summers, for one of the sessions.
Every morning we have Polar Bear. In the cool misty part of the early morning we gather by the lake and jump in for a swim.
I never miss it. It is the favorite time of the whole year for me, starting the day with a swim, like starting over as the sun rises.
During the afternoon free swim about every 15 minutes they have a safety check, everyone climbs out of the lake and circles up around the water’s edge as a head count is made.
The waters grow still and silent. Everyone’s name is called.
Then the life guard blows the whistle and everyone jumps back in the water at the same time with a loud shout of elation, stirring the water, splashing abounds.
That is how I picture the pool of water in the gospel lesson today, silence, stillness, the people all gathered around the waters edge, poised, waiting, every muscle tensed to be suddenly released to jump back in the water.
A light breeze ripples the waters, like the breath of an invisible angel, and everyone jumps, hoping to be first, wondering who was healed this time. Which one? Who was it? Is it me?
The miracle of healing. The last hope. Relief.
Lots of splashing, year in year out, maybe next time, please God.
Over and over.
Out of all that crowd Jesus singles out one man, asks if he desired to be well, and heals him.
Just the one.
Thirty eight years of waiting and splashing.
During our staff Bible study we talked about what kept him out of the water for so long. Nikki said maybe he was helping others into the water first.
We wait for miracles.
We give up, watching the splashing from a safe distance.
Broken humanity longing to be whole again.
Miracles.
Jesus helps one man, but it also points to Jesus, and the question of being made well in which way? The body. The mind? The heart? The soul? Is there a difference?
Which is the greater miracle?
Getting up and walking?
Or finding what we long for?
Jesus first words in John’s Gospel are, “What are you looking for?”
And now we hear, “Do you want to be made well?”
Miracles.
Standing up and walking.
And the heart that is open wide.
Creation is a miracle.
The resurrection of Jesus is a miracle.
But perhaps the greatest miracle is salvation itself, that this soul can sing again, and jump in the waters with a great splash.
Set free to forgive.
Set free to be forgiven.
Set free to risk love.
What am I looking for?
Do I want to be made well?
What is the greater miracle?
The purpose of creation is in question.
The ancient way of the Torah is that the universe exists to share in the Lord’s Sabbath, to rest in that communion with the Holy One.
Jesus gets in trouble by challenging how to honor that Sabbath communion.
In John’s Gospel, some would argue, the Universe exists for God to become human, to be flesh and blood, to be in communion with humanity with a disturbing intimacy, with love that is real and true.
God jumps into the Universe with a great splash and a shout of joy.
Jesus comes up out of the water, asking his questions of desire.
“What are you looking for?”
“Do you want to be made well?”
The waters have been stirred by God’s elation.
Let’s go for a swim.