Dry Bones
(Ezekiel 37:1–14; Psalm 107; Matthew 22:34–40)
Today’s reading from Ezekiel 37:1–14 takes us to the Valley of the Dry Bones, a powerful symbol of hope and redemption. Bones stand for mortality and transition; they are the last earthly traces of the dead that seem to last forever. In Jewish tradition, bones symbolise the indestructible life, which is resurrection.
Ezekiel’s vision of dry bones first of all symbolises 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.
The vision of dry bones also represents the eschatological restoration or resurrection, as well as the reunification of God’s people.
Dry bones living again is a proof 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 and barren nature; we must rise from our spiritual laziness into a level of spiritual alacrity; and we must rise from prayerlessness to prayerfulness. We must wake up from this deep sleep of mere routine to encounter.
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).
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 realisation 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.
Fr. Daniel Evbotokhai
