Morning wake up
Canticle G: A Song of Ezekiel
Ezekiel 36:24-28
I will take you from among all nations; *
and gather you from all lands to bring you home.
I will sprinkle clean water upon you; *
and purify you from false gods and uncleanness.
A new heart I will give you *
and a new spirit put within you.
I will take the stone heart from your chest *
and give you a heart of flesh.
I will help you walk in my laws *
and cherish my commandments and do them.
You shall be my people, *
and I will be your God.
Enriching our Worship, I, Supplemental Liturgical Materials prepared by The Standing Liturgical Commission (Church Publishing Incorporated New York, 1997), p 34.
When people ask how to start their day, this is one suggestion, especially if they begin with a daily bath or shower. A priest I knew in my diaconal training shared that he sings this canticle each morning in his shower. This image has stayed with me for many years. I am not good at memorizing scripture, but for those who are, I cannot think of a better way to start the day.
Even if I cannot learn all the scripture, perhaps I can remember some lines. I am asking God to sprinkle clean water on me, to purify me from false gods. My favorite false gods are fame, recognition, and work, busyness. I am asking God for a new heart, a new way to love, especially loving those who seem unlovable and different, those who seem to punch all my egocentric buttons that become harder and harder to hide, and those I perceive have harmed me. I pray for a new spirit, the Holy Spirit, God’s will, not my own will, to live inside of me and to lead me.
I am well acquainted with and do not like the stone heart that quietly and subtly sneaks into me, judging others and myself.
Take that hard-stone heart out of my chest. It is too heavy and too painful to carry. I pray for a heart that accepts my humanness and the humanness of others. I will try to follow the guidelines I think God has given me. Help me not believe in my hubris that I am better than others, and above the laws, you have asked us to follow.
I want to stay connected today to you, God, even if it is a thin thread.
Perhaps I can remember clean water, no false gods today, a new heart, a new spirit, no stone heart, no hubris, staying connected for one more day.
This reading from Ezekiel is also one of the suggested Old Testament readings at the Easter Vigil. Listen for it.
Joanna https://www.joannaseibert.com/
If you live in the Memphis area, Joanna will be at All Saints Episcopal Church from 10 to 2 on this Saturday, March 11, giving a Women’s Lenten Retreat and preaching there on Sunday, March 12 at 10. The retreat is sponsored by their Daughters of the King.