Here is part of our Old Testament reading, from the Book of Numbers: ‘And Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly together before the rock, and he said to them, “Hear now, you rebels; shall we bring forth water for you out of this rock?” And Moses lifted up his hand and struck the rock with his rod twice; and water came forth abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their cattle’.

St Augustine commented: ‘The rock is Christ in a sign, the true Christ in the Word and in the flesh. And how did they drink? The rock was struck twice with a rod. The double striking prefigures the two pieces of wood on the cross’.

The rock can also symbolise our own hearts, which can be hard as rock. Today, may we allow Christ to enter there by the power of His Cross, that the water of His mercy may flow into us and from us. May God bless you abundantly.