If you have ever experienced the loss of someone who was close to you - someone you loved and perhaps even said, "I don't know how I could live without you..." - you know what Mary was feeling.

It's these flashes of honesty that Ezekiel is talking about in our Old Testament Lesson. The Lord asks, "Can these bones live?" Elijah answers, "Oh, Lord God, you know." I love how Elijah turns the question back on God. I would have said, "I have no idea! - but, if these dry bones are my family and friends - the people I don't want to live without" - I would add, "but I hope so!"

St. Paul says, "if we only have hope in Jesus for this life - we are to be pitied more than anyone" - and he's right. If all we're doing is fooling ourselves - pretending there is something after this life - we should not only be pitied, we should be ashamed of ourselves.