Ezekiel 37:11-14
Then the Lord said to me, ‘Mortal, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They say, “Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost; we are cut off completely.” Therefore prophesy, and say to them, 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 own soil; then you shall know that I, the Lord, have spoken and will act, says the Lord.’
At the threshold of a new season, God’s promise invites us to walk through Advent’s open door into that place where hope is tangible and true: I am going to open your graves…and bring you back.
God’s promise to a people despairing in exile—so far from home, so far from hope—is a promise for us this day.
Their grave was Babylon, the empire that had destroyed their place of worship, taken them captive, and made them question the faithfulness of their God.
Our grave is 2020, the year that has stolen so much from us. We’re living in exile—entombed in fear and grief, numbed by loss, cut off from the lives we knew before. I remember waking to the dark of pre-dawn Easter morning, turning on the radio, and listening to the rising death count being reported. Now, with Christmas just weeks away, I see members of a local congregation are adding additional panels to their outdoor art installation in order to make room for more stars. Each star represents an Iowan lost to Covid-19.
Where is God? Who is God? Who are we?
God speaks to the questions we dare ask aloud and the deep laments we hold in for fear that our dam will break and the flood of grief will sweep us away.
God says, You are my people. And this grave is not your home. This place of death and despair is not where you belong. So I will open your graves and bring you back. I will bring you back to life. I will place you on your own soil—to put down roots, to grow, to flourish, to stretch your limbs to the heavens in praise, to know that I am a God who both speaks and acts…for you.
In this season of Advent, we listen for God’s promise to open our graves and raise us to life. We watch for God to carry us back home with love. Even after this year—this time of exile—these dry bones can live.
You will live.
Come, Jesus, come. Put your Spirit in us. Open our graves and carry us to life. Amen.
*Today’s accompanying song is Dry Bones by Two & The Sun.
I feel like I’ve been living in “advent” since March. Waiting and fearful of what might come. Even on good days, there is a feeling of edginess underneath. Thank you for these words of encouragement today.
Yes, it has felt like one long season of Advent this year. Thank you so much for sharing your experience.