Valley of the Dry Bones

Here is a reading woven with a hymn, that might be offered as the Ezekiel reading during the Easter Vigil, a reflection on the issue of change and renewal.

Prophet:
The hand of the Lord came down on me.
And the Spirit set me down in the middle of a valley.
It was filled with bones.

The Spirit led me all around them.
There were very many.
They were very dry.
God said to me:

God:
Can these bones live?

Prophet: God knows!

God:
Prophesy to the bones. Say to them: O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord

(Congregation might softly hum the tune to “Breathe on me Breath of God.” It might continues underneath the text.)

This I say to the bones:
I will cause breathe to enter you.
And you shall live! I will lay sinews on you.
I will cause flesh to come upon you.
I will cover you with skin.
I will put breath in you, and you shall live!
You shall know that I am God!

Hymn Hymm 508, 1982 Hymnal-
“Breathe on Me, Breath of God” Verse 1

Or this hymn...

Veni Sancte Spiritus (Come, Holy Spirit) from Songs & Prayers from Taize with cantor parts.

(Congregation continues to hum)

Prophet:
So I prophesied as I had been told.
Suddenly there was a noise. A rattling...
(Maracas, sticks, etc)
And the bones came together, bone to its bone.
I looked! And there were sinews!
I looked again! Flesh had come upon them!
I looked again! Skin!
But there was no breath in them.

Prophet:
And God said to me:

God:
Prophesy to the breath!
Prophesy, mortal.
Say to the breath,

Come from the four winds, O Spirit.
Breathe upon these, your dead, that they may live!

Hymn Breathe On Me (Above) Verse two

Prophet:
I did what God commanded.
And the breathe came into them.
They stood on their feet. They lived!
A vast multitude!

Then he said to me:

God:
Mortal, these bones are the whole house of Israel.

They say:

Bones:
Our bones are dried up.
Our hope is lost.
We are cut off completely.

God:
But here's what I say.
I am going to open your graves.
I am going to bring you up from your graves.
O my people! I will bring you back!
And you shall know that I am God.

Hymn Breathe On Me (Above) Verses 3 and 4

God:
I will put my Spirit within you.
You shall live.
I will place you on your own soil.
And you shall know that I the Lord have spoken, and have acted.

Hymn Breathe On Me Verse 4

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CHILDREN AND YOUTH BELONG IN CHURCH!