Dry Bones

A common scripture reading for our time in church history is Ezekiel 37:1-10, the valley of the dry bones. It is a prophecy given to Ezekiel about the restoration of Israel after Jerusalem's fall, the scattering of the Hebrew people, and many lives lost. It is finally a word of hope after 36 chapters filled primarily of doom and gloom.

The reason it is used as a reading for churches today is that we seem to be surrounded by doom and gloom. With aging buildings, dwindling congregations, challenging financial times, and shifting societal realities, there is little good news often found for the church. But perhaps that's because we're looking for good news in all the wrong places. Buildings will come and go. People are fickle. And money, well in many ways it's just paper. God is where our hope is found not in buildings or people or finances. That's what we have to share with this shifting society, a sense of hope amidst all the hurting and uncertainty.

But to be honest it's hard work remembering that hope with all these difficulties and more. Last week I spent the afternoon with the bishop, the D.S., and the United Methodist clergy from Central Massachusetts. As we often do, we began with worship. A responsive litany used after the Ezekiel 37:1-10 reading really struck a cord with me. I hope it does with you as well.

How long, O God, does it take one congregation, one people, one way of doing things to die and another to be born? We cry out,
Can these bones live?

How long, O God, must we endure the aging process of our institutions, the shrinking of memberships, the closing of our church buildings and the drying up of our hopes? We cry out,
Can these bones live?

How long, O God, must our souls die with dying congregations before we begin to live into the promise of the resurrection for the whole world? We cry out,
Can these bones live?

Your Spirit is calling us. You breathe,
The Spirit of God is upon you.

Your people are calling. Your world awaits us. You nudge,
The Spirit of God is upon you.

We loose ourselves in a Good Friday world with only a distant glimpse of an Easter kingdom. We ask, "Why bother!" You persist,
The Spirit of God is upon you.

We listen for your voice calling to us and discover that it is louder and truer than all other voices. We are worthy because your Spirit dwells within us.
Yes, the Spirit of God is upon us. Thanks be to God. Amen.