Daily Readings - Fri Aug 23 2024
Ezekiel
1The hand of the Lord was set upon me, and he led me away in the Spirit of the Lord, and he released me in the midst of a plain which was full of bones2And he led me around, through them, on every side. Now they were very many upon the face of the plain, and they were exceedingly dry3And he said to me, "Son of man, do you think that these bones will live?" And I said, "O Lord God, you know.4And he said to me, "Prophesy about these bones. And you shall say to them: Dry bones, listen to the word of the Lord5Thus says the Lord God to these bones: Behold, I will send spirit into you, and you shall live6And I will set sinews upon you, and I will cause flesh to grow over you, and I will extend skin over you. And I will give you spirit, and you shall live. And you shall know that I am the Lord.7And I prophesied, just as he had instructed me. But a noise occurred, as I was prophesying, and behold: a commotion. And the bones joined together, each one at its joint8And I saw, and behold: sinews and flesh rose up over them; and skin was extended over them. But they had no spirit within them9And he said to me: "Prophesy to the spirit! Prophesy, O son of man, and you shall say to the spirit: Thus says the Lord God: Approach, O spirit, from the four winds, and blow across these ones who were slain, and revive them.10And I prophesied, just as he had instructed me. And spirit entered into them, and they lived. And they stood upon their feet, an exceedingly great army11And he said to me: "Son of man: All these bones are the house of Israel. They say: ‘Our bones are dried out, and our hope has perished, and we have been cut off.12Because of this, prophesy, and you shall say to them: Thus says the Lord God: Behold, I will open your tombs, and I will lead you away from your sepulchers, O my people. And I will lead you into the land of Israel13And you shall know that I am the Lord, when I will have opened your sepulchers, and when I will have led you away from your tombs, O my people14And I will place my Spirit within you, and you shall live. And I will cause you to rest upon your own soil. And you shall know that I, the Lord, have spoken and acted, says the Lord God.
Matthew
34But the Pharisees, hearing that he had caused the Sadducees to be silent, came together as one35And one of them, a doctor of the law, questioned him, to test him36"Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?37Jesus said to him: " ‘You shall love the Lord your God from all your heart, and with all your soul and with all your mind.38This is the greatest and first commandment39But the second is similar to it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.40On these two commandments the entire law depends, and also the prophets.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter powerful visions of hope and love, inviting us to reflect on the transformative power of God’s Spirit and the essence of our faith. The first reading from Ezekiel presents the prophet’s vision of a valley filled with dry bones, a stark image of lifelessness and despair. Ezekiel is called to prophesy to these bones, and through the Spirit of God, they come to life, symbolizing the restoration of Israel. This vision is not just about physical resurrection but about spiritual renewal—God’s promise to breathe life into a people who felt hopeless and cut off from their heritage.
The Gospel reading shifts our focus to the heart of Jesus’ teaching. When asked about the greatest commandment, Jesus responds by quoting Deuteronomy, emphasizing love for God with all our heart, soul, and mind. He then adds a second commandment, to love our neighbor as ourselves, explaining that the entire law and prophets depend on these two teachings. This passage reminds us that our faith is rooted in love—love for God and love for one another. It is this love that gives life and meaning to our actions and relationships.
Together, these readings invite us to reflect on how we embody God’s life-giving Spirit in our daily lives. Ezekiel’s vision reminds us that even in times of spiritual dryness, God can revive us. Jesus’ teaching calls us to live out this renewal through love. Let us ask ourselves: Do we allow God’s Spirit to animate us? Do we love God and our neighbors with the depth and sincerity that Jesus calls for? May we strive to be instruments of hope and life, bringing God’s love to a world that often feels as barren as a valley of dry bones.