Daily Readings - Fri Aug 19 2022
Ezekiel
1The hand of the LORD was upon me, and carried me out in the spirit of the LORD, and set me down in the midst of the valley which was full of bones,2And caused me to pass by them round about: and, behold, there were very many in the open valley; and, lo, they were very dry.3And he said unto me, Son of man, can these bones live? And I answered, O Lord GOD, thou knowest.4Again he said unto me, Prophesy upon these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of the LORD.5Thus saith the Lord GOD unto these bones; Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live:6And I will lay sinews upon you, and will bring up flesh upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and ye shall live; and ye shall know that I am the LORD.7So I prophesied as I was commanded: and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold a shaking, and the bones came together, bone to his bone.8And when I beheld, lo, the sinews and the flesh came up upon them, and the skin covered them above: but there was no breath in them.9Then said he unto me, Prophesy unto the wind, prophesy, son of man, and say to the wind, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live.10So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood up upon their feet, an exceeding great army.11Then he said unto me, Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel: behold, they say, Our bones are dried, and our hope is lost: we are cut off for our parts.12Therefore prophesy and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, O my people, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel.13And ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I have opened your graves, O my people, and brought you up out of your graves,14And shall put my spirit in you, and ye shall live, and I shall place you in your own land: then shall ye know that I the LORD have spoken it, and performed it, saith the LORD.
Matthew
34But when the Pharisees had heard that he had put the Sadducees to silence, they were gathered together.35Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying,36Master, which is the great commandment in the law?37Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.38This is the first and great commandment.39And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.40On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter powerful metaphors and teachings that guide us toward a deeper understanding of spiritual life and love. Ezekiel's vision of the valley of dry bones paints a vivid picture of despair and hopelessness, yet it is transformed by the promise of God's Spirit. The bones, once lifeless, are rejuvenated through prophecy and the breath of life, symbolizing the restoration of Israel. This vision reminds us that even in our darkest moments, God's Spirit can bring renewal and hope.
In the Gospel, Jesus simplifies the essence of the law into two commandments: loving God with all our being and loving our neighbor as ourselves. These teachings are not just rules but the foundation of a life lived in harmony with God and others. Just as Ezekiel's dry bones needed the Spirit to come to life, our spiritual lives are enlivened by embracing these commandments. Love becomes the breath that animates our faith, transforming us from being spiritually lifeless to vibrant followers of Christ.
As we reflect on these readings, let us consider how we can embody this life-giving love in our daily lives. May we allow the Spirit to move through us, bringing life to those around us through acts of love and compassion. Just as God restored Israel, may we find restoration in our own lives by living out the commandments of love, thereby fostering a community that reflects the vibrant life of the Spirit.