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Monday of the Second Week of Easter
Today’s Reading: Ezekiel 37:1-14
Daily Lectionary: Exodus 22:20-23:13; Luke 4:16-30
So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived and stood on their feet, an exceedingly great army. (Ezekiel 37:10)
In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. To prophesy is to preach. The prophet Ezekiel was called by God to speak God’s Word—and to speak it with authority. It wasn’t Ezekiel’s own word, but God’s Word, given to him by the hand of the Lord and the Spirit of the Lord (Ezekiel 37:1).
God’s Word is effective. It performs the very thing it says. Even dry bones cannot help but obey. In this vision, the dry bones come back together, are covered with sinews and flesh and skin. But they are not yet alive.
It’s not until Ezekiel prophesies to the breath. In the Hebrew language, the word for breath (ruach) is the same as the word for Spirit. So it’s not only that these breathless bones begin to breathe again; the prophecy, that is, the preaching of Ezekiel, gives them God’s Spirit. It’s not just that they live; they are brought to life.
But this is just a vision that Ezekiel receives. It’s a sign of something that’s to come. Yesterday Jesus appeared to His disciples and breathed on them and gave them the Holy Spirit. Jesus is the new Ezekiel, who gives the Spirit with His Absolution.
So when you hear these words: “I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit,” they aren’t empty, dry words. They are living words that give life. They are words of resurrection.
“Therefore prophesy, and say to them, Thus says the Lord God: Behold, I will open your graves and raise you from your graves, O my people. And I will bring you into the land of Israel. And you shall know that I am the Lord, when I open your graves, and raise you from your graves, O my people. And I will put my Spirit within you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land. Then you shall know that I am the Lord; I have spoken, and I will do it, declares the Lord” (Ezekiel 37:12-14). In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.
O Spirit, who didst once restore Thy Church that it might be again The bringer of good news to men, Breathe on Thy cloven Church once more, That in these gray and latter days There may be those whose life is praise, Each life a high doxology To Father, Son, and unto Thee. (O God, O Lord of Heaven and Earth, LSB 834:4)
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By Higher Things®Today’s Reading: Ezekiel 37:1-14
Daily Lectionary: Exodus 22:20-23:13; Luke 4:16-30
So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived and stood on their feet, an exceedingly great army. (Ezekiel 37:10)
In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. To prophesy is to preach. The prophet Ezekiel was called by God to speak God’s Word—and to speak it with authority. It wasn’t Ezekiel’s own word, but God’s Word, given to him by the hand of the Lord and the Spirit of the Lord (Ezekiel 37:1).
God’s Word is effective. It performs the very thing it says. Even dry bones cannot help but obey. In this vision, the dry bones come back together, are covered with sinews and flesh and skin. But they are not yet alive.
It’s not until Ezekiel prophesies to the breath. In the Hebrew language, the word for breath (ruach) is the same as the word for Spirit. So it’s not only that these breathless bones begin to breathe again; the prophecy, that is, the preaching of Ezekiel, gives them God’s Spirit. It’s not just that they live; they are brought to life.
But this is just a vision that Ezekiel receives. It’s a sign of something that’s to come. Yesterday Jesus appeared to His disciples and breathed on them and gave them the Holy Spirit. Jesus is the new Ezekiel, who gives the Spirit with His Absolution.
So when you hear these words: “I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit,” they aren’t empty, dry words. They are living words that give life. They are words of resurrection.
“Therefore prophesy, and say to them, Thus says the Lord God: Behold, I will open your graves and raise you from your graves, O my people. And I will bring you into the land of Israel. And you shall know that I am the Lord, when I open your graves, and raise you from your graves, O my people. And I will put my Spirit within you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land. Then you shall know that I am the Lord; I have spoken, and I will do it, declares the Lord” (Ezekiel 37:12-14). In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.
O Spirit, who didst once restore Thy Church that it might be again The bringer of good news to men, Breathe on Thy cloven Church once more, That in these gray and latter days There may be those whose life is praise, Each life a high doxology To Father, Son, and unto Thee. (O God, O Lord of Heaven and Earth, LSB 834:4)