Ezekiel experienced an overwhelmingly awesome vision of the Lord. In this vision, God called Ezekiel to prophesy to the hardened yet endangered Israelites. The king, Jehoiachin, was already in exile, and Ezekiel prophesied that the people would soon suffer the same fate (Ez 2:4ff).
In Ezekiel chapters 2 and 3, the Lord sends Ezekiel to speak His prophetic words of warning to "rebels...hard of face and obstinate of heart" who "will refuse to listen to" Ezekiel (Ez 2:3, 4; 3:7). God tells Ezekiel several times not to be afraid and to speak all His words to this stubborn people. Instead of being discouraged, Ezekiel was "spiritually stirred, while the hand of the Lord rested heavily upon" him (Ez 3:14).
If you received the Eucharist yesterday, you've seen the Lord — in a way far superior to Ezekiel's vision. God called Isaiah and Ezekiel to prophesy in the midst of great visions. Likewise, God is calling you in the midst of your vision of Him. Some of you are called to be priests, others religious, others to the lay single vocation, and others to be faithful husbands and wives.
All are called to be prophets to a hardened, endangered age no less obstinate than Ezekiel's. "Fear them not, nor be dismayed at their looks" (Ez 3:9), for God will make you stronger than they (see Ez 3:8-9; Jer 1:17-19). Accept your calling and vocation from the Lord. Speak His prophetic words. You are more than a conqueror in Jesus (Rm 8:37).
| PRAYER: | Father, I will open wide my mouth so You can fill it with Your words (Ps 81:11). Use me to break open the hardest hearts. |
| PROMISE: | "He will be raised up on the third day." –Mt 17:23 |
| PRAISE: | St. Jane, though living with her cantankerous father-in-law, radiated the joy of the Lord. |
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