The Pool at Siloam

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In Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate was a pool, called in Hebrew Beth-zatha. It had five porticoes in which lay many invalids – some blind, some lame, and some paralysed. One man was there who had been ill for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had been there a long time, he said to him, ‘Do you want to be made well?’ The sick man answered him, ‘Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; and while I am making my way, someone else steps down ahead of me.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Stand up, take your mat and walk.’ At once the man was made well, and he took up his mat and began to walk (John 5:1-9).

Find a comfortable position for this time of prayer …

Become aware of your breathing …

Try not to alter its speed or depth … simply notice…

Focus on each breath passing in and out ...

Feel the air as it flows into you … giving you life …

Turn your attention to the gift of each breath, and God who delights in giving you being.

Breathe in God’s life … God’s love for you …

Breathe out all that gets in the way of that love …

Let your attention turn to God and let yourself be loved by God as you are just now.

Ask for what you want from God in this time of prayer.

In your mind’s eye imagine the pool by the Sheep gate … The five covered walkways … Notice the architecture and the stonework … What kind of place is it? … What colour is the water in the pool? Is the water warm or cold? What can you hear around you, perhaps people talking, the slap of water against the poolside? … What are the smells in this place … pleasant or unpleasant …

Now let the whole scene come to life. See the people near the pool. How many are there? … What sort of people? What kind of illness are they suffering from? …

Notice particularly the sick man of whom the gospel passage speaks. What is he like? What sort of an impression does he make on you? …

You are there. What are your feelings as you survey the scene and watch these people? … Place yourself in the scene wherever you feel drawn to be and let yourself be involved.

You notice Jesus entering this place … What do you notice about him? … What might he be feeling as he looks around?

Now allow the action to unfold … Jesus approaches the sick man …. Hear his words… ‘Do you want to be made well?’ How do you respond when you hear those words? … ‘Stand up’ … notice your reactions … and Jesus’ too …

If there hasn’t yet been an opportunity to talk with Jesus, imagine he now comes and finds you. Chat with him about what has just taken place … share what’s with you. Let Jesus do the same.

It’s time to leave the pool. You make your goodbyes to Jesus …

When you are ready return to this time and place.

We end by saying together:

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.