Readings: Ezekiel 37:1-14, Ps. 107:2-9, Matthew 22:34-40
“Thus says the Lord God: I am going to open your graves, and bring you up from your graves, O my people; and I will bring you back to the land of Israel. And you shall know that I am the Lord when I open your graves, and bring you up from your graves, O my people. I will put my spirit within you, and you shall live, and I will place you on your soil; then you shall know that I, the Lord, have spoken and will act.” (Ezekiel 37:12-14)
When can you say, “God no longer cares for me?” At what point can you say, “My sins are too much, and I don’t deserve God’s love anymore?” At what point can you say, “There is no need to make efforts to be a good person?” . . .
- No matter how bad things may have been, no matter how great your sins may have been, it is never too late for God. This is the message of today’s first reading from the book of Ezekiel. Your bones may have been dead completely. You may have lost all hope. You may have given up on every attempt to repent from certain things you know God is not pleased with, but the truth, my dear friend, is that God still cares! His love is everlasting!
- Lazarus died for four days, but when Jesus showed up, he proved that for God, there is nothing like “too late.” Ezekiel’s prophecy of the dry bones shows us that there can be dead cases as far as our life is concerned. We can always change; there is always room for repentance. We can never be too old to start learning again. Why is it that it can never be too late for God? His steadfast love never ceases; His mercies endure forever. God’s mercies are new every morning. As we often sing: “Great is thy faithfulness, O Lord. Great is thy faithfulness.”
- God has written his laws in our hearts; whether or not we are Christians, we know what is right and wrong. In today’s Gospel passage, Jesus is asked about the greatest commandment, and he responds by mentioning the love of God and the love of neighbour. As long as we strive to love God with all our hearts, minds, and strengths, we will keep our part of the bargain, and by loving our neighbour as ourselves, we will make the world a better place. Where there is love, there is God, and when your actions are propelled purely by love for God and your neighbour, you cannot possibly sin.
- God has given us his commandments, and our ability to keep them depends on how much we love and respect him. St. Augustine once said: O GOD, YOU HAVE MADE US FOR YOURSELF; OUR HEARTS ARE RESTLESS UNTIL THEY REST IN YOU. You may have been looking for happiness, but there is a quicker way now. Reciprocate the love that God has shown to you. Begin today to live right and do right. Forget the past and repent.
Let us pray: Almighty, ever-living God, create in us a pure heart and renew your spirit within us. Do not cast us away from your presence, O Lord, and take not your Holy Spirit from us. We ask this through Our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God forever and ever. Amen.
Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. May God’s abundant blessings be upon us all. (Friday of week 20 in Ordinary Time. Bible Study: Ezekiel 37:1-14, Ps. 107:2-9, Matthew 22:34-40).
@Rev. Fr. Evaristus E. Abu