1st Reading Ezekiel 9: 1-7; 10:18-22
Psalm Ps. 113:1b-2.3-4.5-6 (R. 4b)
Gospel Matthew 18: 15- 20
The prophet Ezekiel, in today's first reading, narrates a vision of the slaughter of idolaters and also the consequent departure of God from Jerusalem. This departure meant doom for Israel as they will be exiled in Babylon by the Babylonians, first in 597 BC and then in 586 BC. The events, described by Ezekiel, are prior to the siege of Jerusalem by the Babylonians. Ezekiel's prophetic ministry spans through the Babylonian exile (592-570 BC) and hence,
Ezekiel is often consulted when anyone seeks to know about the Babylonian exile of the Israelites. This is strengthened by the fact that Ezekiel himself was part of those taken to exile.
Ezekiel's special concern for the purity of the Temple and the peace of Jerusalem is known by he being brought up in the precincts of the Jerusalem Temple wherein Ezekiel learnt to see the Temple as a holy place and as God's dwelling place and the very centre of creation.
The first reading reminds us of the Passover in Egypt where the Egyptians were killed and the Israelites, who marked their doorposts and the lentil of their houses with the blood of the slaughtered lamb, were saved (cf. Exodus 11-12).
There are two groups of people mentioned by Ezekiel in the first reading: “those who grieve and lament over all the abominations practiced within Jerusalem” (v. 4) and “the others (the idolaters)” (v. 5).
The former (the first group) was marked with a cross and spared the slaughter while the latter (the second group) was killed. None of them was spared. We shall not escape the wrath of God and his separation from his chosen ones unless we change and embrace God alone. There will be a perfect separation of the faithful ones from the idolaters. This, I believe, was put in a symbolic action by the seven men, of whom was a man dressed in a linen. Seven is completeness.
The linen clothes are used by the priest who serves at the altar (cf. Ex. 28: 39). Christ becomes the High Priest who carries out this separation of the 'good' from the 'bad'. This is done by the assistance of angels who are also known to dress in white linen (cf. Dn. 10:5; 12:6).
We pray the Lord grant us the Grace to serve Him alone and, like in the Gospel, promote Christian reconciliation everywhere.
Amen.
Pax et Bonum
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