Ezekiel prophesied that the chosen people were a field of dry bones (Ez 37:1-2). They had been dead for centuries. Then he prophesied restoration, unity, and peace (Ez 37:21ff). How can dry bones be restored? By nothing other than resurrection of the dead. How can we be restored to unity and peace? By nothing less than resurrection.
We've tried to improve the human condition with education, law and order, communism, capitalism, secularism, and militarism. However, they were all in vain. The only way to deal with the dry bones of our human condition is resurrection. Therefore, Jesus is the only Answer for humanity because He alone can die and rise. Our only hope is to be united with Jesus' death and Resurrection by faith in Him.
We are saved by faith from a "dry bones" existence. We express our faith in Jesus through Baptism. We are baptized into Jesus and into His death and Resurrection (Rm 6:3-5). The dry bones rattle and come together (Ez 37:7). We are born again and restored.
A week from today is the Easter Vigil. Many throughout the world will be baptized, and all the baptized will be called to renew their baptismal commitment to Jesus. Give yourself to Jesus, Who has turned dry bones into the abundant life (Jn 10:10).
| PRAYER: | Jesus, in this upcoming Holy Week, may I become aware of what You have done for me. You alone have made my life worth living. |
| PROMISE: | "If we let Him go on like this, the whole world will believe in Him." –Jn 11:48 |
| PRAISE: | "God is our refuge and our strength. The Lord of Hosts is with us; our stronghold is the God of Jacob" (Ps 46:2, 8). |
Reprinted with permission from Presentation Ministries, a lay association of the Catholic Church that focuses on evangelization and discipleship through Bible teaching, daily Mass, the charisms of the Holy Spirit, and Small Christian Community. Their ministries include:
· One Bread, One Body
· Daily Bread Radio Program
· Annual Bible Institute
· Discipleship Retreats
· Guadalupe Bible College