The ancient Israelites lost all hope when Nebuchadnezzar overcame Jerusalem in 597 B.C; the prophet Ezekiel himself was deported to Babylon.

The Israelites cried out to the Lord,  Our bones are dried up and our hope is gone; we are cut off.

But God said to Ezekiel:  Mortal, can these bones live? 

Ezekiel answered,  O Lord God, you know.

And in Ezekiel’s vision, the bones came together, and flesh came upon them, and breath came into them.

So the Lord answered the people:

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. 

So can God re-animate us when we feel that all is lost, and we despair.

Even in this time of confronting the wilderness, we are not to lose hope.

God renews all things; God is able to heal and restore all of life.

This is our faith.