Living With God

Our prophecy from Ezekiel today is chosen to go along with the gospel parables. The church has long attached these together, seeing the new shoot as a prophecy for the Messiah. But, for those who heard this prophecy did not see it this way. In fact they probably were bothered by it. This prophecy is told in the midst of ones calling for the destruction of Israel and the Babylonian captivity. Just before this passage Ezekiel compares two eagles: one Babylon, the other Egypt. Warning the Israelites who had made alliance with Egypt and did not rely on God’s promise that Babylon will defeat Egypt. The great cedar tree that was the people of Israel will be broken and scattered to the wind. But the few, those who remain faithful, will be broken off and planted again in the land on the high mountain Zion.

Here God has made known that God will renew the community of Israel and keep the covenant even though the people broke it. It is always like that for God. Even though the people walk away to look for another savior – whether it be gold, land, famous friends, outward appearances, retirement benefits, or whatever – God does not walk away from the people. God showed us that by sending Jesus into the world to be mistreated by the world and killed for the world to make us well-known by God, as Paul says.

You are God’s. Well known by God. You are comforted by the assurance of salvation and guided by the Holy Spirit. Your life is well made. You are a branch of the small sprig that God broke off the mighty cedar tree. The one that rebelled against God and tried to find its own salvation. No longer will God cut down the tree that God has planted. No longer will there be a need to establish a new community. You are it. What an honor and privilege it is to be called by God to be a co-worker with Jesus in the world. Planted by God, watered by baptism, fertilized by the Body and Blood of Jesus, you are God’s new creation. 

The question is, “What are you doing about it?” It is easy to sit back and watch God work in the world especially as Lutherans. You know that, saved by faith and not by works. But works are not dead. We are called to work in the vineyard of God not for our salvation but because we are saved. No longer do you have to do things to be loved by God. You get to do things because God loves you so much that he sent his son to die for you. You get to share God’s love with others in word and deed. To offer ourselves to God’s service and dedicate our lives to the care and redemption of all that God has made as the offertory prayer state.

Rededicate your life to caring for God’s creation and proclaiming God’s love to the world until that day when you will be gathered together with all the saints around the throne of God. It does not matter who you are, where you are, how old you are, you are the new sprig planted and nourished by God so that all the world may see and hear God’s love. For from the smallest of seeds comes the love of God where the world may rest.