Word to the Wise
Thursday, August 21, 2014 - Thursday in the 20th Week in Ordinary Time
[Ezek 36:23-28 and Matt 22:1-14]For I will take you away from among the nations, gather from all the foreign lands, and bring you back to your own land. I will sprinkle clean water upon you to cleanse you from all your impurities, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. I will give you a new heart and place a new spirit within you, taking from your bodies your stony hearts and giving you natural hearts. I will put my spirit within you and make you live by my statutes, careful ot observe my decrees.
AUGUST 21 ST. PIUS X, pope
Ezekiel was a temple priest who ministered among the exiles in Babylonia! His concern was go give hope to those who would return to Palestine. Since he was a priest, he would be concerned with ritual purity, but he also shows he is willing to think of this in terms of a deeper meaning: a purity of heart and spirit. The early Christian community would see the Pentecost experience in terms of Ezekiel's prophecy of God putting "my spirit within you..."
In our own times, we might speak of "renewal of mind and heart," and a "refocusing of purpose." The alienation that Ezekiel speaks of included idolatrous practices (accepting the Babylonian religions) and loss of the idea of "ritual purity" [kosher]. The alienation in later Christian consciousness was whatever sinful attitudes and practices had crept into one's life, which would initially be washed away by baptism ["I will sprinkle clean water upon you...."] We celebrate this at the Eucharist with a sprinkling rite at the beginning of the celebration and use the words from Ezekiel!
When I preach a parish mission, these ideas are part of what I am hoping will take root in the minds and hearts of those in attendance. God promises a renewal to anyone who is willing to change and refocus on what faith can lead us to, what hope can motivate us to and what love can accomplish if we are open to it. Ezekiel's vision is not so old after all! AMEN