Weekly Bible Study - Ezekiel 37:12-14

6 April 2014

5th Sunday of Lent

With cold stony heart and lifeless bones, the People of God lies in a grave of desperation. Babylon brings death, destruction and slavery to Israel. Plaintive cries have not been heard. Appeals to Israel's (Judah's) covenant relationship and “favored” status has not stopped their annihilation. In the 6th century BC, the nation of Israel is out of options.

Will God’s people finally understand the error of their ways as destruction looms? The prophet-priest, Ezekiel, certainly hopes so. He knows God means business! Before Jerusalem is destroyed he must convince his people they are responsible for their own demise. The exile will bring intense suffering, loss of identity, and a severe crisis of faith.

While the people may lose hope, God never does. Nor does he want his people to lose hope. So today’s reading gives them (and us) a glimpse into the hope God wants to give the people. It is a vision of a new Israel that God intends to raise up from the remains of its “dry bones.” These bones must come together to live in a new way. It is not enough for the bones (Israel) to rise and become flesh, sinew and skin. They need “ruah,” God’s spirit, to recall them to the fullness of life God intends for humanity. “I will put my spirit in you that you may live and thus you shall know that I am the Lord.”

Do we experience any kind of exile in our own lives? In what way does sin cast us into the graves of separation from God? Do you hear the dry, lifeless bones of our fractured relationships cry out this Lent for “ruah,” God’s breath of life?

One excellent way to revigorate our own “dry bones” is to participate in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. God is bringing new life to dry bones every Monday in Lent from 6:00-7:00 pm in every Catholic church of the Archdiocese of Hartford. See you there!

The author, Ms. Barbara Gawle, leads Bible studies at her parish, Incarnation Church of Wethersfield, CT. She is a CBS graduate and the 2012 recipient of the Biblical School's highest award, The Lawrence Boadt Memorial Medal.