Just as I was commanded

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Oculi mei

Margaret Rizza

Today is Thursday the 13th of August, in the 19th week of Ordinary Time.

Oculi mei ad Dominum Deum: My eyes are on the Lord God. Wherever you are right now, on the way to work, walking in the park, sitting at home, driving… what can you see? What can you see around you? Remember for a moment that God is present in all of this, that all of this has been made by God, and is loved by God, that God holds you, and all of this, in the palm of God's hand.

Oculi mei ad Dominum Deum

Like the deer that yearns for running streams

So my soul is yearning for my God

My tears have become my bread day and night

As I hear it said: 'Where is your God?′

Oculi mei ad Dominum Deum

By day the Lord will send His loving Spirit

By night I will sing praises to the God of my life

Send out Your light and Your truth as my guide

To lead me to Your holy ground

Oculi mei ad Dominum Deum

Then shall I go to the God of my joy

Singing praise, praise on the lyre and the harp

Why so downcast my soul?

Put your hope and trust in my Saviour, my God

4:18

Today’s reading is from the Prophet Ezekiel.

Ezekiel 12:1-12

The word of the Lord came to me: Mortal, you are living in the midst of a rebellious house, who have eyes to see but do not see, who have ears to hear but do not hear; for they are a rebellious house. Therefore, mortal, prepare for yourself an exile’s baggage, and go into exile by day in their sight; you shall go like an exile from your place to another place in their sight. Perhaps they will understand, though they are a rebellious house. You shall bring out your baggage by day in their sight, as baggage for exile; and you shall go out yourself at evening in their sight, as those do who go into exile. Dig through the wall in their sight, and carry the baggage through it. In their sight you shall lift the baggage on your shoulder, and carry it out in the dark; you shall cover your face, so that you may not see the land; for I have made you a sign for the house of Israel.

I did just as I was commanded. I brought out my baggage by day, as baggage for exile, and in the evening I dug through the wall with my own hands; I brought it out in the dark, carrying it on my shoulder in their sight.

In the morning the word of the Lord came to me: Mortal, has not the house of Israel, the rebellious house, said to you, ‘What are you doing?’ Say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God: This oracle concerns the prince in Jerusalem and all the house of Israel in it.’ Say, ‘I am a sign for you: as I have done, so shall it be done to them; they shall go into exile, into captivity.’ And the prince who is among them shall lift his baggage on his shoulder in the dark, and shall go out; he shall dig through the wall and carry it through; he shall cover his face, so that he may not see the land with his eyes.

7:45

Moment of Gray

Dear Gravity & Domy Castellano

God tells Ezekiel that he lives among a people who have eyes to see but do not see, ears to hear but do not hear. It’s a hard, uncomfortable line, because it so easily describes any one of us. Where might you have eyes to see but, if you are honest, choose not to?

Ezekiel is not simply asked to speak a message; he is asked to act one out in public, packing his bags like an exile, digging through a wall, covering his face, in full view of people who will mock or misunderstand him. Has following God ever made you feel foolish, or exposed, in the eyes of people around you? How have you dealt with that?

Listen again to the first part of this reading, and notice what it costs Ezekiel simply to obey.

10:19

The word of the Lord came to me: Mortal, you are living in the midst of a rebellious house, who have eyes to see but do not see, who have ears to hear but do not hear; for they are a rebellious house. Therefore, mortal, prepare for yourself an exile’s baggage, and go into exile by day in their sight; you shall go like an exile from your place to another place in their sight. Perhaps they will understand, though they are a rebellious house. You shall bring out your baggage by day in their sight, as baggage for exile; and you shall go out yourself at evening in their sight, as those do who go into exile. Dig through the wall in their sight, and carry the baggage through it. In their sight you shall lift the baggage on your shoulder, and carry it out in the dark; you shall cover your face, so that you may not see the land; for I have made you a sign for the house of Israel.

12:05

If you suspect you have been choosing not to see, can you ask God for clearer sight? Speak honestly about what it would cost you to act on what you already know.

14:19

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.

As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be

World without end

Amen