2021-07-04—We Are Ezekiel
14th Sunday in Ordinary Time - Year B
Considering recent discoveries on several former residential school sites, the many forest fires burning in the province and the provincial and federal governments’ empty promises on reconciliation and on tackling climate change, I found today’s readings so relevant to state of the world today. Put another way, the readings speak to me of the entrenched sins of unchecked capitalism, colonialism, paternalism and the lack of regard for life, whether human and non-human. But today, I am just going to discuss what it might mean for us in our little part of the Earth.
In the first reading, God says to Ezekiel, “they and their ancestors have revolted against me to this very day. Hard of face and obstinate of heart are they to whom I am sending you.” We are Ezekiel! As inheritors and beneficiaries of Canada’s colonial past, it is incumbent upon us to truly follow the gospel and work to towards a society that is just for everyone. No, we are not responsible for what our forebears did but we as people of faith, we are responsible for righting the wrongs of the past. Again, no, we may not see the fruits of our labour—but labour, we must.
The second reading tells us we can do it if we build and maintain right relationships with each other and be good to each other, that is create community beyond our familiar group. As the Hopi Elders tell us, we cannot wait in this 11th hour for others to lead the way. “Banish the word struggle from your attitude and vocabulary. All that we do now must be done in a sacred manner and in celebration. We are the ones we have been waiting for.” Building relationships that include prayer and celebration because praying and celebrating together are necessary to sustain us in our work to bring about change. We don’t need to look outside ourselves for leaders. “We are the ones we have been waiting for.”
Others are already doing this, mostly but not exclusively women, are forming circles all over the world, to address these issues. Various non-Indigenous groups are collaborating with each other to support Indigenous People in their struggle for justice—for Indigenous Peoples and for the Earth.
Indigenous peoples all over the world have been telling us of the folly of unrestrained extraction of the earth’s riches, of deforestation and soil erosion caused by agribusiness and of species extinction. They know, as Wet’suwet’en leader, Delee Nikal, states, “without the health of our land and the health of our waterways, we cannot remain a healthy people.” The Indigenous Peoples are the prophets of our time. Even though the climate is changing so fast that they must coin new terms such as, ‘heat dome’ and every year phenomenal weather events keep getting worse, industry and governments respond to the voices of Indigenous Peoples, just as the people in Jesus’ hometown responded to the teaching of Jesus in the synagogue.
I know you may be tired of my talking about these things, but they are so important and so urgent—and—so biblically-rooted. Which brings me to a little promotional piece. In September, Rev. Laurel Dykstra, who substituted for me when I was sick, will be offering a 6-session course on the biblical tradition of Wilderness Prophets and how we, in this watershed, can fit into that tradition -learning to listen in creation and speak truth to power. The course will be offered on a week-day evening at a sliding scale cost of $30-80. Let us learn how we can be Ezekiels in our time and work for the healing of our common home. And to that end we pray:
Gracious and loving God, may we be faithful to the graces you give each day; help us to be courageous in time of opposition and compassionate when misunderstood. Look not at our fears but at our desire to be faithful to your will for us. May your Holy Spirit work miracles in our lives so that we have the courage to be faithful disciples of you Son, Jesus, the Christ. Amen.
Please share your thoughts.
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