Readings:
Ezekiel 31-32
Ephesians 2

Ezekiel 31-32

Ezekiel speaks another prophecy against Egypt and against pharaoh in particular. He’s likened to a large tree that has grown proud because of its height and allowed that pride to make it think it’s greater than it is. The tree grows so high because of its location along a stream with plenty of water and the quality of the soil. This is saying to pharaoh that Egypt isn’t mighty and powerful because he’s so great, it’s located in a place that allows it to control trade routes and it has access to the most precious resource in the area; plentiful water.

But despite the blessings of geology and geography, pharaoh has gotten his ego swollen from the power of his country and God is telling him he will be cut down because of his hubris.

Ephesians 2

This chapter has two halves; the first half is how we are reconciled to God by his Son, and the second is how we are reconciled to all the rest of mankind in the unity of Christ. He starts off by saying we are made alive in Christ because we were dead in our sins. The wages of sin are death, so it was something we actually earned for ourselves through our own sinfulness. But thanks to the life, death and resurrection of Christ we are reconciled to God and no longer subject to the death brought on by sin.

Paul states that we are saved “by grace, through faith” not that we are saved by faith alone. It’s the grace of God that saves us, but Jesus specifically said that “not all who say ‘Lord Lord’ will enter” into his eternal Kingdom, but only those who DO the will of the Father.

The Second Council of Orange decreed in A.D. 529 that man, weakened by the Fall of Adam, is incapable of performing works worthy of eternal life by his own natural strength. Only by the supernatural help of the Spirit can we be humble, obedient, and loving in a way that truly pleases the Lord (Canons 1-25) (CCC 2008-11).

When Paul says that Jesus tore down the dividing wall that separates Jews from gentiles he is making a metaphor with the walls in the courtyard of the temple that separates the gentiles from joining in the worship of God close up. Now we can all worship him together as one.

Tomorrow’s Readings:
Ezekiel 33-34
Ephesians 3