Ezekiel 47:1-12 (NRSV)
Then he brought me back to the entrance of the temple; there, water was flowing from below the threshold of the temple toward the east (for the temple faced east); and the water was flowing down from below the south end of the threshold of the temple, south of the altar. Then he brought me out by way of the north gate, and led me around on the outside to the outer gate that faces toward the east; and the water was coming out on the south side.
Going on eastward with a cord in his hand, the man measured one thousand cubits, and then led me through the water; and it was ankle-deep. Again he measured one thousand, and led me through the water; and it was knee-deep. Again he measured one thousand, and led me through the water; and it was up to the waist. Again he measured one thousand, and it was a river that I could not cross, for the water had risen; it was deep enough to swim in, a river that could not be crossed. He said to me, "Mortal, have you seen this?"
Then he led me back along the bank of the river. As I came back, I saw on the bank of the river a great many trees on the one side and on the other. He said to me, "This water flows toward the eastern region and goes down into the Arabah; and when it enters the sea, the sea of stagnant waters, the water will become fresh. Wherever the river goes, every living creature that swarms will live, and there will be very many fish, once these waters reach there. It will become fresh; and everything will live where the river goes. People will stand fishing beside the sea from En-gedi to En-eglaim; it will be a place for the spreading of nets; its fish will be of a great many kinds, like the fish of the Great Sea. But its swamps and marshes will not become fresh; they are to be left for salt. On the banks, on both sides of the river, there will grow all kinds of trees for food. Their leaves will not wither nor their fruit fail, but they will bear fresh fruit every month, because the water for them flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food, and their leaves for healing."
Going on eastward with a cord in his hand, the man measured one thousand cubits, and then led me through the water; and it was ankle-deep. Again he measured one thousand, and led me through the water; and it was knee-deep. Again he measured one thousand, and led me through the water; and it was up to the waist. Again he measured one thousand, and it was a river that I could not cross, for the water had risen; it was deep enough to swim in, a river that could not be crossed. He said to me, "Mortal, have you seen this?"
Then he led me back along the bank of the river. As I came back, I saw on the bank of the river a great many trees on the one side and on the other. He said to me, "This water flows toward the eastern region and goes down into the Arabah; and when it enters the sea, the sea of stagnant waters, the water will become fresh. Wherever the river goes, every living creature that swarms will live, and there will be very many fish, once these waters reach there. It will become fresh; and everything will live where the river goes. People will stand fishing beside the sea from En-gedi to En-eglaim; it will be a place for the spreading of nets; its fish will be of a great many kinds, like the fish of the Great Sea. But its swamps and marshes will not become fresh; they are to be left for salt. On the banks, on both sides of the river, there will grow all kinds of trees for food. Their leaves will not wither nor their fruit fail, but they will bear fresh fruit every month, because the water for them flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food, and their leaves for healing."
Ezekiel is a Hebrew prophet who has reminded me of God's wondrous ability to draw something new out of something old; something living out of something dead. He had visions both of the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem but then also of a new temple.
He is a good advent prophet. To remind us to look into the ashes of our lives for a flowering of life. To see hope in darkness. To see flesh on bones, and water in the desert.
Eventually that new temple would itself be destroyed. But for us, our temple - the dwelling place of our faith - is coming as a small baby in a backwater town in Judea. At a time when life itself was threatened daily for the Jewish people. A baby born in a time of death to bring new life.
It's hard to imagine just how backwards Jesus' birth was for those waiting for the Messiah. The expected him to come in power and glory. Not born amidst animals and hay and dirt.
God brings new life out all the time from things that we have written off as unworthy or dead or broken. And my experience has been that when I admit my own brokenness, it is then that I can more clearly see the new things God is doing.
At this Advent season we look for the light to come into the darkness. That means we have to truly and honestly admit there is darkness first. For some, the darkness is too acutely felt. For others, perhaps not enough. Either way, the light is stronger. It is brighter and it is enough to heal the darkest places of our hearts.
God of light, shine your love on us so that we may be healed of the broken and dark places of our hearts. Ignite a spark of hope in us to see the new things you are doing in this world so that we may take part in this dance of life you've given us. Amen.
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