The good news is even in the places we turn away from the invitation to enter His kingdom, we’re not beyond hope
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
There’s good news and bad news in this week’s readings.
The bad news is about the internal and external things that prevent us from entering the kingdom of God.
There are external things, like the possessions of the rich young man in Matthew’s Gospel. But the prophet Ezekiel warns about internal things, too, like haughtiness of heart (those who believe themselves to be god) and shepherds who are more concerned for themselves than for their sheep. Adding to this internal diagnosis, Jesus tells the parable of the workers in the vineyard, warning about envy toward God’s generosity.
The readings tell us about external and internal factors that cause people to walk away from the kingdom of God! The real question is not: “What did they get wrong?” The real question is: “What, in my own life, follows the same pattern — what makes me walk away from the kingdom of God?”
The good news is that even there, in the places where we turn away from the invitation to enter the kingdom, we’re not beyond hope.
This week we hear Ezekiel’s vision of the valley of dry bones. The dry bones represent ancient Israel’s external and internal situation. They cry out: “Our bones are dried up, our hope is lost and we are cut off.” Two dimensions to this lament are key for us. First: Left to their own devices, that statement is 100% true — they are cut off and without hope! Second: But they’re not beyond God’s help. When God places His spirit into the hearts of the people, the dry bones come back to life. Both elements of their story apply to us!
We celebrate the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary this week (Aug. 22). If you read the words of Ezekiel attentively, you can see that Mary lived the promised restoration of the people in her own body. God says: “I will put my spirit within you that you may live.” Mary didn’t need to be cleansed from sin. But the promises about God’s spirit dwelling in His people were fulfilled in her and through her.
St. Peter says to Jesus: “We have given up everything and followed you.” There’s the pattern for us! What is it that we need to give up — interiorly or exteriorly — to follow Jesus more deeply today, this week, this month? The key is not that we are perfect all at once today! The key is that we present our “dry bones” to Him each day and let Him bring us to life. Do we need to give up possessions so that we can receive all from the hand of God? Do we need to give up attitudes that make us self-reliant so that we can rely more deeply on God?
The readings this week are a cautionary tale. God gives us an awesome power — the power to walk away from His kingdom. But the readings this week are also a hopeful tale. God is willing to bestow an even more awesome power — the power that brings our dry bones back to life. How will you exercise your power today?
