Extended Open Worship
Ezekiel 37:1-14
Ezekiel 37:1-14 (NRSV):
1 The hand of [God] came upon me, and [God] brought me out by the spirit of [God] and set me down in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. 2 [God] led me all around them; there were very many lying in the valley, and they were very dry. 3 [God] said to me, “Mortal, can these bones live?” I answered, “O God, you know.” 4 Then God said to me, “Prophesy to these bones and say to them: O dry bones, hear the word of [God]. 5 Thus says God to these bones: I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live. 6 I will lay sinews on you and will cause flesh to come upon you and cover you with skin and put breath in you, and you shall live, and you shall know that I am [God].”
7 So I prophesied as I had been commanded, and as I prophesied, suddenly there was a noise, a rattling, and the bones came together, bone to its bone. 8 I looked, and there were sinews on them, and flesh had come upon them, and skin had covered them, but there was no breath in them. 9 Then [God] said to me, “Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, mortal, and say to the breath: Thus says God: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live.” 10 I prophesied as [God] commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived and stood on their feet, a vast multitude.
11 Then [God] said to me, “Mortal, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They say, ‘Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost; we are cut off completely.’ 12 Therefore prophesy and say to them: Thus says God: I am going to open your graves and bring you up from your graves, O my people, and I will bring you back to the land of Israel. 13 And you shall know that I am [God] when I open your graves and bring you up from your graves, O my people. 14 I will put my spirit within you, and you shall live, and I will place you on your own soil; then you shall know that I have spoken and will act, says [God].”
Queries:
What energizing possibilities are rising in me and in my communities?
Where am I noticing the reparative work of Love in our world and in my life?
How am I being invited “back to the land” and to the “soil”?
What voices are guiding us toward wholeness and peace? What are they saying?
Why are people low on hope? How are people finding hope?
In what ways is Jesus a model of reparative love?
Where is the loving work of repair most needed right now?
Where am I finding new life?