Friday of 20th Week, Year II: reflection

Theme: “O dry bones, hear the word of God and you will rise again”

Reading: Ez. 37:1–14

At a time when the people of Israel exiled in Babylon thought that the hope of making it out alive from the land of slavery was totally lost, that the dream of returning to their normal life in their home land had become unrealistic, that their time of witnessing the goodness of God was over, and that they were as hopeless and helpless as dry bones lying in the deep valley of death, God gave the prophet Ezekiel a vision assuring him that even dry bones can still rise again and fulfil their dreams that were denied, for nothing is impossible before our God.

It was remarkable what God told Ezekiel to tell the dry bones so they could rise again. He instructed him to prophesy to them and command them to hear the word of the Lord (37:4), and when they heard it, they were restored to life.

The word of God renews and restores lost glories; it is active and alive among those who hear and welcome it. Everywhere and every time it is proclaimed and accepted, something new happens; it breaks the bonds of the underworld, lifts people from slavery to freedom, from grass to grace, from sickness to health, from poverty to greatness, from depression to cheerfulness, and from death to life.

Dear friends, allow the Word of God to speak to your dry bones today and you will rise again. Allow this word to speak to your deficiencies and purify you, and you will be whole again. Allow all aspects of your life to hear the voice of God and your hopelessness will disappear. All dry bones that hear the word of God will rise again and glorify the Lord, just as it happened in Ezekiel’s time.

May your Friday be a testimony of the goodness of God. Amen

Fr Isaac C. Chima