20th September 2026 Pentecost 17 Ezekiel 47:5-9

Reflection: “Living Waters”as a source of life and sustenance.

In this vision, the prophet Ezekiel sees a river that gushes out of the sanctuary and
becomes deeper and deeper, impossible to cross. This water is not like a simple river: it
is the symbol of a life that comes from God, abundant and inexhaustible. The text
explains that wherever this river goes, everything comes back to life. The waters even
transform the Dead Sea into healthy water, the fish become numerous, and the banks
are covered with trees whose fruits nourish and whose leaves heal. In other words,
where these waters arrive, death recedes and life sets in.

How do these waters bring us life and sustenance?
First of all, they represent: a spiritual source. As water is indispensable to the body, the
presence of God is indispensable to the soul. It refreshes, restores and gives meaning to
life. Secondly, they symbolize: abundance and provision. The river nourishes the land,
makes trees grow and multiplies resources. It evokes a life where basic needs are met,
not in lack, but in generosity. Finally, by these waters bring: healing, and
transformation. Where there was sterility or death, they produce fertility. This can
apply to our lives: difficult situations, tired hearts, or broken environments can be
renewed by this “living water.”

In short, Ezekiel’s living waters are not just a natural image: they speak of a divine life
that nourishes, heals, and makes prosperous everything it touches.

Pasteur PADOME Paul
President of the Protestant Church of Kanaky New Caledonia