Reflections from today's Bible reading, Part 2

Reflection 2: A warning from Ezekiel to those rich in faith, knowledge, or money. The verse, “For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required (Luke 12:48) is one commonly cited, but God takes it to the next level with Ezekiel. In Ezekiel 3, God lets Ezekiel know that if he doesn’t tell the rebellious in Israel God’s warnings against their actions, “[their] blood I will require at your hand.” Ezekiel is given great knowledge and vision and access to the words of God Almighty. He is expected to use it. Without any attempt at boasting, I have lived a privileged life in terms of parentage, money, and education. Much is expected. . .

Reflection 3: I’ve read and heard about Christ’s healings in the gospels hundreds of times, and they often end with the statement, “Your faith has made you well.” Only today did I consider that he meant the word “well” to mean much more than physically well. Luke 17 describes the cleansing of the ten lepers, and only one comes back to thank Jesus. And Jesus says to him, “Your faith has made you well.” The others were physically well, unless the text is leaving out some major recurrence of leprosy down the road due to their self-centeredness. But the one who came back immediately glorified God. He recognized his true treasure and the source of complete joy for his life. He was not just physically well. His faith had made him spiritually well, a condition more necessary for his eternal well-being.