This episode of Father Simon Says was a journey through Scripture, prophecy, temple architecture, and even the Shroud of Turin.

Fr. Richard Simon starts us in Ezekiel 47, where water is flowing out from the Temple. Not just a trickle… this is a prophetic flood.

Ezekiel is in exile, the Temple’s a pile of rubble, and he’s seeing a vision of a Temple that’s not yet rebuilt. This isn’t about brick and mortar… it’s messianic.

Temples

After exile, a “sad little” temple was rebuilt. Even the older folks cried because it was nothing like Solomon’s original masterpiece.

Herod’s remodel? Gorgeous. Gold-plated, 13+ stories tall, blinding in the sun. Basically, the Jerusalem version of the Eiffel Tower.

But… none of these were THE Temple Ezekiel saw.

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Jesus = The Real Temple

Fr. Simon connects the dots:

Jesus said, “Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up.” He was talking about His body.

At the crucifixion, they didn’t break Jesus’ legs (fulfilling Passover Lamb prophecy), but a soldier pierced His side, and out came… blood and water

Sounds familiar? Because Ezekiel saw water flowing from the side of the Temple, and John sees it flow from Jesus.

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The Shroud of Turin

The Shroud of Turin shows a wound on Jesus’ side, and under UV light, there’s serum: a clear fluid, like water.

→ Fun fact: this wasn’t visible until modern science caught up in the 20th century.

→ So, unless a medieval forger had a UV flashlight and a biochem degree, this Shroud’s legitimate.

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Water = Life (Literal and Eternal)

Fr. Simon emphasizes how water in the ancient world meant survival. No water = dead.

So, when Jesus talks about “living water”, He means more than hydration… He means eternal, grace-filled, soul-reviving life.

The flow from Jesus’ side = origin of the Sacraments, especially Baptism and the Eucharist.

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That Ezekiel River Got Deep, Fast

Every 1,000 cubits (~1,500 ft), the river gets deeper: ankles → knees → waist → can’t walk through it.

This symbolizes how God’s grace increases as it flows… eventually transforming even the Dead Sea (your worst sins and driest spiritual deserts).

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Ritual Baths & John’s Focus on Water

Gospel of John is all about water: woman at the well, healing pools, water to wine, and of course, blood + water from the cross.

Why? Probably written for Jewish groups like John the Baptist’s followers, who were obsessed with ritual purity and mikveh baths.

John’s saying: “You all love your clean water, but THIS water: Jesus’ water… gives eternal life.”

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Final Thoughts:

Jesus heals a man and says, “Do not sin anymore, so that nothing worse may happen to you.” → Not because sickness is always punishment for sin… → But because sin is worse than sickness. Let that one simmer.

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TL;DR:

The Temple Ezekiel saw? It’s Jesus.

The blood and water? That’s the Church’s sacramental life starting at the Cross.

The river from the Temple? That’s God’s mercy flooding your life, washing away sin, bringing growth, healing, and eternal life.

Yes, the Shroud of Turin backs it all up.

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