The 5th Sunday of Lent | Sunday 26 March 2023

Today is Sunday the 26th of March, beginning the fifth week of Lent.



Audrey Assad sings, ‘Spirit of the Living God.’

O Spirit of the living God, thou Light and Fire Divine
Descend upon Thy Church once more and make it truly Thine
Fill it with love and joy and power, with righteousness and peace
Till Christ shall dwell in human hearts, and sin and sorrow cease.
Blow, wind of God, with wisdom blow until our minds are free
From mists of error, clouds of doubt, which blind our eyes to Thee
Burn, winged fire, inspire our lips with flaming love and zeal
To preach to all Thy great good news, God's glorious commonweal.
So shall we know the power of Christ, who came this world to save
So shall we rise with Him to life which soars beyond the grave
And earth shall win true holiness which makes Thy children whole
Till, perfected by Thee, we reach creation's glorious goal.

Today’s reading is from the Prophet Ezekiel.


Ezek 37:12-14


Therefore prophesy, and say to them, Thus says the Lord God: I am going to open your graves, and bring you up from your graves, O my people; and I will bring you back to the land of Israel. And you shall know that I am the Lord, when I open your graves, and bring you up from your graves, O my people. I will put my spirit within you, and you shall live, and I will place you on your own soil; then you shall know that I, the Lord, have spoken and will act, says the Lord.’

The people God tells Ezekiel to speak to here are as good as dead. They can do nothing for themselves. If they are to respond to God at all, God will have to do all the work. Begin this prayer by recalling times in your life when you’ve felt like that.

It is only when God puts his spirit in us that we truly live. Recall, too, times when you’ve felt most fully alive, in tune with the spirit of God within you.

“I will place you on your own soil”, God promises. It’s an image of being at home, at ease in your surroundings. What’s it like for you to be in a place like that?

As you hear the words of this prophecy again, notice the number of things that God promises to do for his people, to do for you.

Once you’ve really heard all these promises from God, take a moment or two to respond, in whatever way seems best to you.

You have given all to me
To you, Lord, I return it
Everything is Yours
Do with it what you will
Give me only your love and your grace
That is enough for me.
Amen.