Today’s reading: Ezekiel 18:1-32
Jesus died so that we might live. No one else needs to die. How do we avoid death? Jesus restored us to the Father, and has shown us how to live our lives in accordance with His will. Thus God says, “if he walks by my statutes and is careful to observe my ordinances, that man is just—he shall surely live” (v.9). “Only the one who sins shall die!” (v.4c).
Unfortunately much of the world is in sin, and is on the path to death. But that path is not irreversible. “But if the wicked man turns away from all the sins he has committed, if he keeps all my statutes and does what is just and right, he shall surely live. He shall not die!” (v.21). One needs to repent, to obey God’s commandments, and to live the way of Christ.
How does that happen? The first step is to hear the gospel. Then people believe, call upon the name of the Lord, and are saved. How do they hear the gospel? There are those who are called to evangelize, to witness, to share Christ. And since God does not want anyone to die, everyone should be given the opportunity to hear the good news of salvation in Jesus. For that to happen, the Church needs to do really massive evangelization, with particular focus on the proclamation of the gospel. This is the call to the New Evangelization.
With hearing the gospel resulting in meeting Christ and accepting him as Savior and Lord, one then needs to live Christ. This involves doing what is right and just (v.5), having no idols (v.6a), being pure and chaste (v.6b), oppressing no one (v.7a), ministering to the poor (v.7b), and avoiding injustice and evil (v.8).
God says, “For I find no pleasure in the death of anyone who dies” (v.32a). Neither should we. So let us move on, responding to the call to the New Evangelization, and engage in rapid and massive evangelization.
“Turn back and live!” (v.32b).
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