Daily Readings - Fri Aug 23 2024
Ezekiel
1The hand of the LORD was upon me, and he brought me out in the Spirit of the LORD and set me down in the middle of the valley; it was full of bones.2And he led me around among them, and behold, there were very many on the surface of the valley, and behold, they were very dry.3And he said to me, "Son of man, can these bones live?" And I answered, "O Lord GOD, you know."4Then he said to me, "Prophesy over these bones, and say to them, O dry bones, hear the word of the LORD.5Thus says the Lord GOD to these bones: Behold, I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live.6And I will lay sinews upon you, and will cause flesh to come upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and you shall live, and you shall know that I am the LORD."7So I prophesied as I was commanded. And as I prophesied, there was a sound, and behold, a rattling, and the bones came together, bone to its bone.8And I looked, and behold, there were sinews on them, and flesh had come upon them, and skin had covered them. But there was no breath in them.9Then he said to me, "Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, Thus says the Lord GOD: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live."10So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived and stood on their feet, an exceedingly great army.11Then he said to me, "Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. Behold, they say, 'Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost; we are clean cut off.'12Therefore prophesy, and say to them, Thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I will open your graves and raise you from your graves, O my people. And I will bring you into the land of Israel.13And you shall know that I am the LORD, when I open your graves, and raise you from your graves, O my people.14And I will put my Spirit within you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land. Then you shall know that I am the LORD; I have spoken, and I will do it, declares the LORD."
Matthew
34But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together.35And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him.36"Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?"37And he said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.38This is the great and first commandment.39And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.40On these two commandments depend all the Law and 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.