Tuesday, February 8, 2022
The Prophet as Watchman: Understanding the Stumbling Block
According to notes in the NAB, this portion of Ezekiel 3 may have been moved by an editor from its original location in Chapter 33 to this earlier place. The later chapter begins the portion of Ezekiel’s prophecy of the Salvation for Israel, and this is where we understand that the prophet is important as the Sentinel to the Word Among Us. We also are called to be prophets or sentinels, People of the Watch. And we are called to pronounce a vision or mission: We are to confront the stumbling blocks in our lives rather than walk around or away from them.
God allows stumbling blocks to tumble into our path to obstruct our headlong pace. We may think that our virtuous acts bring into balance our refusal to study these stumbling blocks and learn from them but they do not. Only our willingness to study our stumbling blocks brings life.
This week in our scripture class we are studying chapters 10 and 11 of Acts and as part of our assignment we were asked to write a reflection about what we had learned, about how and when and why we respond or do not respond to God’s call when he places a stumbling block before us, when he asks us to do something that is particularly painful or difficult. Ezekiel speaks to the absolute necessity of answering this call no matter the strife or angst and we may want to ponder the choice that lies before us. The consequence of not responding is non-existence. The consequence of understanding and conforming to God’s will is the gift of ever-lasting life in union with Christ.
As Sentinel People, let us urge one another to study our obstacles, and let us urge one another to see them as stepping stones in our journey of unity in Christ.
Tomorrow, climbing the stumbling block.
Adapted from a reflection written on January 19, 2008.
Image from: https://www.flickr.com/photos/ian-w-scott/27046274910
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