DRY BONES
Even in the
bleakest moments, God is with us, even in the emptiness we feel, even in
silence. Even if "God alone knows that," that can be enough to revive
our spirits and bodies.
Yesterday,
we reflected on Ezekiel's reading: "I will give you a new heart and place
a new spirit within you, taking from your bodies your stony hearts and giving
you natural hearts" (Ez 36:26). Today, we hear about "dry
bones." Dry bones; hear the Word of
the Lord!
This
is a remarkable vision recorded by Ezekiel! It took place in Babylon, where the
conquered Israelites were in exile. The people felt that their nation was as
good as dead, like the bones of corpses fallen in battle and allowed to rot and
dry in the sun. The Israelites thought their situation was hopeless, as
hopeless as a person who had been reduced to dry bones. There is no comparative
degree for the word "dead," but one is tempted to say that there is
nothing "deader" than dry bones.
The
word to Ezekiel was one of hope. In his vision he saw the bones joining
together and flesh coming over them. God's Spirit breathed on those who had
died and they came to life again. However, this passage is not about
resurrection from the dead. It is a symbol that Israel will be freed from
bondage and restored. It will come together like the bones coming together and
the flesh coming over them for God to give them life.
For
many people the terrifying thing about death is that it seems to be the utter
end, nothingness, a darkness from which there is no escape. The prophet's image
could offer no better description of the despair of death: a field of dry
bones, forgotten and hopeless. But the story says that God, if trusted, can
bring life even to the desolate. There is new life for Israel - from death and
despair God brings forth hope. This is our faith today, too. Even in the
bleakest moments, God is with us, even in the emptiness we feel, even in
silence. Even if "God alone knows that," that can be enough to revive
our spirits and bodies.
We
know that restoration promised by God is realized fully for all people of faith
in the resurrection on the last day. We also know that we will die, but we also
believe that though we be as dead as dry bones God will raise us, body and
soul, to the fullness of life. In Ezekiel's vision those who had been slain and
reduced to bones came alive and stood upright. When we stand upright to pray we
express our faith in the resurrection. In particular, we stand to receive
communion to proclaim our faith in the resurrection, for Jesus said, "He
who feeds on My flesh and drinks My blood has life eternal and I will raise him
up on the last day" (Jn 6:40).
Also
today the Church honors the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Her Queenship
is not about royalty or power but a "service of love," said Pope
Benedict XVI in 2012. "Mary," he said, "is the Queen of love,
who lives out her gift of self to God: as a way to help people on the path of
salvation."