Today is Dec. 7, the memorial of St. Ambrose, bishop and doctor of the Church.
We hear the prophet Isaiah declare at Mass today, “Upon every high mountain and lofty hill there will be streams of running water.”
In the days of the Second Temple, when Jerusalem expanded under the Hasmoneans and King Herod, the natural water sources in the city — its springs and cisterns — became insufficient to meet the needs of thousands of residents and pilgrims. In particular, more water was needed to wash clean the temple floor from the blood of sacrifice. Two aqueducts were constructed to address this. These great engineering feats of the ancient world transported water from the springs of Bethlehem to nearby Jerusalem using gravity and a complex system of large pools.
Isaiah’s prophecy of streams flowing from high mountains and lofty hills should be interpreted as pointing to a world transformed by God’s grace. Water, essential for life, is an image of the spiritual renewal brought by the Messiah. Recall Jesus’ words in John’s Gospel, “Let anyone who thirsts come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as scripture says: ‘Rivers of living water will flow from within him'” (7:37-38). Just as the aqueducts carried life-giving water from Bethlehem, so too does Christ come to carry the living water of grace to the parched hearts of humanity.
Thirsting for God’s presence in our lives
Bethlehem’s ancient aqueducts invite us to consider the ways God sustains and nourishes our souls. Advent reminds us that Christ is the source of the streams that refresh and renew us. He comes to quench our spiritual thirst, to heal our dryness, and to cleanse us with His mercy. Just as the aqueduct was a visible sign of unseen springs, so too are the sacraments tangible signs of God’s invisible grace flowing into our lives.
This Advent, let us reflect on our thirst for God’s presence in our lives. Do we seek the living water that only Christ can provide, or do we attempt to fill our lives with things that leave us dry and empty?
At Christmas, the streams of grace flowing from Bethlehem to the whole world will flow again. In this season of waiting, let us pray for the living water of Christ to refresh our souls, that we may be ready to receive Him with open hearts and lives renewed. For in Bethlehem, the streams of salvation have begun to flow, and they will never run dry.
Let us pray,
O God, who sent your only begotten son into this world to free the human race from its ancient enslavement, bestow on those who devoutly await Him the grace of your compassion from on high, that we may attain the prize of true freedom. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.
