Thursday, August 13, 2020 (today’s lectionary)
Step, have mercy
The word of the Lord came to me.
Ezekiel is always saying this. A couple days ago I was waiting outside while Margaret got a dental diagnosis. I walked figure eights around a small parking lot, saying the Jesus Prayer. “Step, Jesus. Step, Son of God. Step, have mercy. Step, on me. Step, on Margaret … Step, Jesus …”
Usually when I seek God’s voice I feel like my ears are full of peanut butter. Nothing gets through that goo, and I’m kind of frustrated. But I wasn’t frustrated in the parking lot. My mind flitted to and fro like it usually does, and still I wasn’t frustrated. I took some deep breaths and just settled.
They have eyes to see but do not see.
They have ears to hear but do not hear.
For they are a rebellious house.
God has something in mind for his rebellious people.
I felt surrounded, in my tiny parking lot, by concrete constructions, office buildings thrown up for haphazardly planned businesses – investment brokers, hair salons, dentists, bars and banks. I was surrounded by many trees, beautiful trees though young, but around each of them was a circle of dirt and mulch. No one was going to sit down and lean against those trees, or have a picnic under one of them on a blanket. Careful landscaping, made to make the mowing easy. Where are all the people!
But still I did not feel alone. Step, Jesus. Step, Son of God. Step, have mercy.
While the people are looking on,
Prepare your baggage as if for exile.
Let them look and wonder and perhaps they will understand
That I will leave them.
Will they not turn aside from their sin
And repent?
Again Ezekiel acts out the scene, and God hopes the people will notice. Ezekiel has become a good actor in his time, the people are curious what he will do next.
At evening I dug a hole through the wall with my hand
And set out in the darkness
Shouldering my burden.
But Ezekiel is not permitted to leave. Not really. He is not free as he would be in Jerusalem; he and his people are exiled, deported, slaves to Nebuchadnezzar, lost. Still, God is not finished being angry with them yet.
God was enraged and utterly rejected Israel.
He abandoned his inheritance to the sword.
Life flies by, like at the speed of light. All of us need so much all the time. Sin abounds because we need need need and take take take. If God answered our prayers like Bruce Almighty tried to do, the line would stretch around the block and into the next country, and we’d never get anything done except stand in line and wait.
But we could change our prayers. Praying for what we need might take up much less of God’s time if we focus on others instead. “Step, have mercy. Step, on Margaret.”
Let your countenance shine upon your servant Margaret.
Statute #1, pray for others more than for yourself. Statute #2, forgive others seventy times seven. Statute #before 1, trust me with your life. Do not be afraid.
Forgive your brother from your heart.
(Ezekiel 12, Psalm 78, Psalm 119, Matthew 18)
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