DRY BONES
Ezekiel 37:1-14; Psalm 107; Matthew 22:34-40
Ezekiel 37:1-14 presents us with the message from “the Valley of Dry Bones”. Though bones stand for mortality and transition, they are however, the last earthly traces of the dead, that seem to last forever. In Jewish tradition bones symbolize the indestructible life, that is ressurection.
So, Ezekiel’s vision of dry bones first of all symbolizes the state of the house of Israel, they were in captivity and had lost all hope but God chose to restore them back from Babylon to their own homeland in Palestine and give them life anew. Secondly, it also represents the eschatological restoration or resurrection, as well as the reunification of God’s people.
Therefore, dry bones living again is a prove of God’s resurrection and restoration power. It is an urgent call for revival, we must challenge every form of lukewarmness and indifference in our lives and in the Church. We must rise from our cold nature; we must rise from our spiritual laziness into a level of spiritual maturity and from prayerlessness to prayerfulness. Men must wake up from this deep sleep of mere routine and religiousity.
Again, dry bone is indicative of the fact that whatever is dry, lost or destroyed because of our sins may be restored because of God’s mercy. Mercy finds us when we are lost and brings us into the knowledge of God’s love and it is on the strength of this love that fidelity is established – “if you love me, keep my commandant” (John 14:15). So, God saves us that he might have a relationship with us. In the gospel Jesus told the Pharisees that love is the greatest commandment. We must love God above all things and our neighbour as ourselves. We are revived by God’s mercy that we may be his ambassadors of love for the realization of his kingdom.
LET US PRAY
Father, have mercy, by the power of the Holy Spirit revive us again and save us through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
