Friday of the Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time
A sound started up, rattling like thunder. The bones came together, bone joining to bone. Sinews appeared on them, flesh grew over them, skin covered them on top (Ez 37:7-8). Our boys are big fans of Super Mario Bros (as is dad). I couldn’t help but think of one of the characters as I spent time with Ezekiel. In Super Mario, Dry Bones are skeletal versions of Koopa Troopas–villainous turtle members of an evil army led by their angry and antagonizing dragon-like leader, Bowser. Their purpose is to stop Mario and Luigi from saving Princess Peach. Not quite a direct parallel to our reading but Dry Bones is part of a massive army of Koopas. Similarly, we read that Ezekiel connected dry bones that soon “stood on their feet, a vast army.” (Ez 37:10) What an amazing scene from the exile when he is told to call forth new life from a field strewn with dry bones.
Dem bones, dem bones, dem dry bones.
Dem bones, dem bones, dem dry bones.
Dem bones, dem bones, dem dry bones.
Now hear the word of the Lord.
This sweet spiritual hymn from the 1800s presents great imagery for Ezekiel’s valley of dry bones. (Not familiar? Have a listen: Delta Rhythm Boys - Dry Bones) It reveals a God who brings the dead to life, who can make whole that which is beyond healing. When every part of our being wants to cry out, "Our bones are dried up, and our hope has perished" (37:11), Jesus offers the promise of new life. God takes "dem dry bones" of our lives and brings them to life, everlasting and abundant.
Dem bones, dem bones gonna’ walk around
Dem bones, dem bones gonna’ walk around
Dem bones, dem bones gonna’ walk around
Now hear the word of the Lord.
In the gospel, Jesus echoes a very similar theme. Only love will revive the dry bones of the rules and regulations that tend to stifle us. The entirety of our Christian faith centers on two commandments–love God and love others. The whole law depends on them. We long to be loved; we long for God. God is love and we were created to love and be loved; created to participate in the life set before us and to love all others as part of this life. Jesus gives these commandments and then embodies them in the most abundant way possible; by going to the cross. Have you ever felt like dry bones–hopeless, exhausted, defeated? In times of crisis, there is still hope for resurrection and even dry bones can spring to life again by the power of the Spirit. Jesus reminds us that no society can survive or flourish without love of God and neighbor as its motivating principle. “I will put my spirit in you that you may come to life” (Ez 37:14). Let us rise, walk, live, and love.
Peace,
Brandon Meyer