rise and hear
“I will open your graves and have you rise from them.” —Ezekiel 37:12
The context of today’s first reading is a passage about God raising dry bones to life (Ez 37:1-11). Our churches are missing well over half of registered Catholics each Sunday, according to research. Moreover, many who actually attend Mass are spiritually deaf and unable to clearly hear the Word of God.
Perhaps the Lord allows so many dead, dry bones in His Body, the Church, because death is not the end, but the beginning of new life. Death is a seed falling to the ground and dying so it might bear great fruit (Jn 12:24).
Why did Jesus wait four days to raise Lazarus? (Jn 11:17) He said it was so that the crowd could hear His words and then believe that the Father sent Jesus (Jn 11:42). God’s Word also reveals that the Lord waits so none may perish and all would have the chance to hear, repent, and be saved (2 Pt 3:9, 15).
All sin leads to death (see Rm 6:23). The Sacrament of Confession enables those who are dead in sin to find new life in Christ. How dry we are! (see Ez 37:3) May we repent, hear God’s Word clearly, and rise from the death of sin to new, risen life in Jesus.
Prayer: Father, raise me from my dullness to risen life in Your Son, Jesus.
Promise: “If the Spirit of Him Who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, then He Who raised Christ from the dead will bring your mortal bodies to life also, through His Spirit dwelling in you.” —Rm 8:11
Praise: Praise You, Jesus! You triumph over sin and death, and offer eternal life in heaven to all who believe in You (see Jn 3:36).
Reference: (This teaching was submitted by a member of our editorial team.)
(For a related teaching on Meeting the Risen Christ, listen to, download or order our AV 4A-1 or V 4A on our website.)
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