Today’s scripture: Ezekiel 36:26-28 (NRSV) (The Message) (KJV) What might God be saying to me?
My thoughts (Vivian Wyatt):
Having a grown-up conversation with my granddaughter. Having my cat come back home after being gone for six days. Sunday mornings in the social hall. Any Wednesday night meeting of the East Side Oasis. These are things that make my heart melt, things that make me glad that I have a heart of flesh. God promises: “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.”
What does it mean to have a heart of flesh? Well, a heart of stone would be selfish and cold, looking out for number one, as they say. But a heart of flesh would esteem others higher than itself, wanting to serve rather than be served, wanting to forgive rather than be forgiven. It would pray the prayer of St. Francis of Assisi: “Grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love . . .”
A heart of stone is not moved by injustices. It hears of acts of immorality and brutality, and it does not flinch. But a heart of flesh cries when it hears of pain and it stands with the oppressed, knowing that God calls us to this fight. “But let justice run down as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream” (Amos 5:24).
A heart of stone loves with conditions. It rejects with ease the child who is homosexual or gender fluid. A heart of flesh says, “You are my child; I love you,” regardless. It reflects the love that God has for all of us. “Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things” (1 Corinthians 13:7).
How do we get such a heart? Today’s passage promises that God will give us this heart of flesh; and NOT because we are worthy, but because the name of God has been profaned. Instead of rejecting us, God, again, reaches out to us “and you shall be my people, and I will be your God” (Ezekiel:36:27b).
Thought for the day: In this New Year, I pray that God will give you a heart of flesh, a heart that cares and cries, a heart that stands for justice and with the oppressed, a heart that loves unconditionally.
We encourage you to include a time of prayer with this reading. If you need a place to get started, consider the suggestions on the How to Pray page.