To you, also, son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel. When you hear a word from my mouth, you shall warn them on my behalf. If I say to the wicked, “Wicked one, you shall surely die,” and you do not speak to warn the wicked to turn from his way, that wicked person shall die for his guilt…
23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time
EZEKIEL 33:7-9
To you, also, son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel. When you hear a word from my mouth, you shall warn them on my behalf.
If I say to the wicked, “Wicked one, you shall surely die,” and you do not speak to warn the wicked to turn from his way, that wicked person shall die for his guilt, but I will hold you accountable for his blood.
But if you warn the wicked to turn from his way, and he does not turn from his way, he shall die for his guilt, but you will have saved your life.
Ezekiel lived between 600 – 550 BCE, though we cannot be more precise. These are the tragic years of the destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonians under Nebuchadnezzar (578 BCE). Ezekiel and Jeremiah are the two prophets who witnessed the fall of Jerusalem and the deportation to Babylon.
The first part of Ezekiel’s prophecy is contemporary with the last days of Judah, and it announces the fall of Jerusalem. The second part, already in exile, is dedicated to maintaining the hope of the people in restoration, basing it on trust in God and, therefore, on the adherence of the people to the Lord, not on vain political hopes.
In today’s text, an exhortation is made to the “prophets,” those in charge of announcing the Word to the people, to fulfill their duty, emphasizing their responsibility and the importance of being faithful to their mission.
ROMANS 13:8-10
Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.
For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.
It is a beautiful summary of the law of love, which shows how in that “first commandment” all the others are contained.
Some simplistic and restrictive interpretations think that “love and do what you want” is an invitation to carelessness. They only read “do what you want,” and omit its condition: “love.” However, the message is much more sensible: love is much more demanding than the Law. It not only fulfills it but surpasses it a thousand times.
The last sentence is a precious synthesis: “Love is the law in its fullness.”
José Enrique Galarreta, S.J.