Dem Bones Can Live!

Pentecost, Year B
Ezekiel 37:1-14
May 20, 2018
St. Matthias

Not too long ago, I FASTED - for over 24 hours.  Now I would like to tell you that this was all part of my spiritual discipline - intended to feed my soul by giving up nourishment for the body.  Oh, that I could inspire you with a sermon about the benefits of meditation, prayer, and self-denial.  But, I can’t!  I fasted - because the doctor told me not to eat.  I had one of those medical procedures where you can’t eat or it will mess up the results and then you have to go back and do it all over again.   Now I do have to say it wasn’t as bad I thought it would be.  But have you ever noticed how many fast food commercials there are on T.V.  I was hungry from the moment I started.  Soon I had decided I could feel myself growing weaker.  All I could do was lie on the couch, waiting for Phyllis to come home so I would have someone to listen to my wailing and have sympathy for me.  She did come home – eventually – she even felt sorry for me.  I felt sorrier!

After it was all over I ate McDonalds.  A Big Mac, supersize fries, and a large chocolate shake.  Doctors tell us that the human body can go three weeks without food – three days without water.  Jesus fasted for 40 days in the wilderness.  I can’t imagine.

           But its Dem Bones – Dem Bones – Dem Dry Bones this morning.  OK, how many of you honestly thought about the toe bone connected to the foot bone and the ankle bone and the leg bone during this morning’s first reading from the prophet Ezekiel?  If you are too young to know the song, it goes back a long way.  Dem Bones, Dem Bones – Dem Dry Bones.  Oh, hear the word of the Lord.  God called Ezekiel to bring life to the children of Israel.  It was long after their escape from Egypt.  God’s Chosen People had crossed into the Promised Land hundreds of years earlier.  The Israelites had been conquered by the Babylonians and many were taken away into captivity.  Some had made it back to the Promised Land.  But now they were dead – spiritually – DRIED UP, EMPTY and DEAD.  They had forgotten God. 

So, God called Ezekiel and Ezekiel had a vision.  It was a vision of a dry valley full of dry bones.  I would imagine that there were scrub brush trees, scorpions, and lots of dust.  It was just like deserts are supposed to be:  dry, lifeless, and hot.  God asks Ezekiel, “Can these bones live?”  Now, what would you say?  Yes – No – Maybe???  I like Ezekiel’s answer.  “O Lord, you know.”  And of course, God does know and look at what brings those bones back to life.  It’s not water – It’s not cool temperatures – it’s not shade.  O dry bones – hear the word of the Lord.  And then it begins.  First, there is a rattle, then those bones start coming together.  The toe bone connected to the foot bone.  The foot bone connected to the ankle bone.  The ankle bone connected to the leg bone.  O hear the Word of the Lord.

We don’t know what happens to those bones in the end except that from dry dead emptiness there is life as the Word of the Lord breathes.  I bet those bones danced with new life from the Spirit.  We DO know what happens to Ezekiel.  He goes and prophesies to the Israelites.  He brings the life-giving Word of the Lord.  And the Israelites soon remember that it is God who is their Savior. 

We gather here this morning on Pentecost Sunday – when the Holy Spirit entered the upper room and the disciples were filled to overflowing.  From there these same disciples would preach the Good News of the Resurrection in every language.  We also call this Whitsunday for the White robes new Christians would wear after baptism on Pentecost.  And even to this day we come and ask the Holy Spirit to fill us with love and grace and forgiveness and joy and peace.  Soon we will come to this altar rail and be fed with spiritual food.  It is a day to celebrate fullness - the very fullness of the Holy Spirit.

But what if our bones aren’t feeling very full?  Sometimes our souls can feel dry, empty, and dead.  Have you ever found yourself wondering – Can my bones live?

Recently I read about what is probably the oldest place of worship in the world.  The Grand Shrine of Ise was first built in the year 4 BC.  It is considered the most holy place in all of Japan. Over 7 million worshippers visit the Shrine every year.  It is also one of the most unique temples in the world.   The Shrine is built from ancient Japanese Cypress trees that surround the temple.  People have traditionally gathered among the trees which were believed to restore life if you just stood among them.  Later, the Japanese began building their temple from the wood of these ancient trees, but as any builder will tell you, a wooden structure could never last hundreds of years.   So, every 20 years the temple is rebuilt from the trees of the forest.  The temple has been rebuilt 62 times and each time the people come to celebrate the new life of the ancient temple.

And we can celebrate new life FOR God rebuilds us again and again.  We kneel and pray and feel the Holy Spirit comfort and heal.  We sing with our choir and the heavenly host and feel our spirits soar.  We receive bread and wine that somehow through the work of the Holy Spirit become to us the very body and blood of a risen Savior.  And God gives us life – New Life.  Attitudes, thoughts, and actions that tear us down and dry us up are swept away by the Holy Spirit who breathes into us life – new life – eternal life.  Sadness is comforted with joy, Peace replaces doubt, and empty souls are filled with the Grace of God.  O yes, Dem Bones Dem Bones can live.  Just hear the word of the Lord.  AMEN.