Daily Reflection Friday of the Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time

Remember the old spiritual song from 1928 by James Weldon Johnson “Dem Bones” recorded by The Famous Meyers Jubilee Singers? 

Toe bone connected to the foot bone

Foot bone connected to the heel bone…

Now hear the word of the Lord.

Dem bones, dem bones gonna walk around

Dem bones, dem bones gonna rise again.

Now hear the word of the Lord….

 As children we used to sing this catchy tune over and over for a laugh not realizing the inspiration for the song came from the prophet Ezekiel. Of course, we meant no disrespect because if asked we would say, “What is an Ezekiel!” 

This passage speaks of new life and resurrection, the breath of God, and of Ezekiel a prophet of God under the power of God. The Lord asked Ezekiel three times to prophesy over the dry bones. Three being a significant number in Scripture. 

The valley of the dry bones is a story of hope.  It's a story of promise. It's a story about a people who have a future. If “all shall be well” is the theme that runs through Psalm 23, then “you shall live” is the theme that runs through the valley of dry bones.

“I will put my spirit in you that you may live, and I will settle you upon your land;

thus you shall know that I am the Lord. I have promised, and I will do it, says the Lord.” 

The world today can frighten many of us just like the valley of the dried bones. We need to draw on the power of the Holy Spirit, so we don’t loose hope. A favorite way for me to pray is to breathe in…and breathe out…slowly in a series of three time using a prayer word. God is love, or come Holy Spirit, I think you understand. And make every breath you take a “God moment.’ It’s an easy, simple prayer that you can do anywhere anytime.   

Or you can walk around humming the tune of “Dem Bones? Can’t remember the tune try Google. You will.

Give thanks to the Lord; His love is everlasting Psalm 107