Daily reflection _ dry bones


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.
Deacon John Ruscheinsky
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."