Maximilian Kolbe – The Noontimes

Ezekiel 37: Deliverance and Reunion

Ezekiel 37: Deliverance and Reunion

Wednesday, August 6, 2025

Adapted from a Favorite written on August 14, 2010.

Today we read about the dry bones brought to life out of the dust of nothingness – about Israel and Judah reuniting in the metaphor of the two sticks – and the promise to us of deliverance and reunion.

Oh my people! I will put my spirit in you that you may live, and I will settle you upon your land; thus you shall know that I am the Lord. I have promised, and I will do it, says the Lord.

From yesterday’s MAGNIFICAT Evening Prayer Mini-Reflection: Because we have been forgiven, we know the way of forgiveness; because we have been healed, we know the way of healing; because we have known God, we know the way of God. The gifts given to us are gifts for us to give. This introduces Psalm 86:11-17, and James 2:12-13. The citations are worth reading.

In August each year we celebrate the life of Saint Maximilian Kolbe, a Franciscan, who was held at Auschwitz and died on August 14th in 1941 when he took the place of another who was condemned to death. Kolbe acts on the hope expressed by the image in Ezekiel today, he follows Christ’s request that we refrain from judging and condemning, and he pardons those who enslave and murder their fellow countrymen. Kolbe knew – and we know – that God promises rebirth, new life, reunion and new life to each of us.

I have promised, and I will do it, says the Lord.

Ezekiel uses a story of desiccated bones and broken pieces of wood to prophesy our future.

I have promised, and I will do it, says the Lord.

Let us think of all that troubles and divides us, and hand it over to God.

I have promised, and I will do it, says the Lord.

Let us think of all that breaks us and brings harm, and hand our anger over to God.

I have promised, and I will do it, says the Lord.

Let us think of all that pains us and is sorrowful, and hand the sadness over to God.

I have promised, and I will do it, says the Lord.

Oh my people! I will put my spirit in you that you may live, and I will settle you upon your land; thus you shall know that I am the Lord. I have promised, and I will do it, says the Lord. Amen.

Cameron, Peter John. “Prayer for the Evening.” MAGNIFICAT. 14.8 (2010). Print.

Image from:

August 6, 2025

dry bones, God keeps promises, hope, James 2:12-13, Maximilian Kolbe, Psalm 86:11-17

Ezekiel 37:21-28: Deliverance and Reunion

Ezekiel 37:21-28: Deliverance and Reunion

Saturday, March 22, 2025

We are several weeks away from Palm Sunday and we remember the dry bones brought to life out of the dust of nothingness. We remember Israel and Judah reuniting in the metaphor of the two sticks. And we remember the promise to us of deliverance and reunion.

Oh my people! I will put my spirit in you that you may live, and I will settle you upon your land; thus you shall know that I am the Lord. I have promised, and I will do it, says the Lord.

From yesterday’s MAGNIFICAT Evening Prayer Mini-reflection: Because we have been forgiven, we know the way of forgiveness; because we have been healed, we know the way of healing; because we have known God, we know the way of God. The gifts given to us are gifts for us to give. This introduces Psalm 86:11-17, and James 2:12-13. The citations are worth reading. These are the intercessions.

The Lord commanded us to show to one another the love that he has shown to us. Let us pray earnestly for the gift of charity made real in our daily lives, saying: O God, give us your help.

You have said: do not judge, and you will not be judged – grant us the compassion to seek what is good in others as you have sought what is good in us. O God, give us your help.

You have said: do not condemn, and you will not be condemned – grant us the mercy to build up others as you have built us up. O God, give us your help.

You have said: pardon and you shall be pardoned – grant us the grace to forgive as you have forgiven us. O God, give us your help.

Today we celebrate the life of Saint Maximilian Kolbe, a Franciscan, who was held at Auschwitz and died on this date in 1941 when he took the place of another who was condemned to death. Kolbe acts on the hope expressed by the image in Ezekiel today, he follows Christ’s request that we refrain from judging and condemning, and he pardons those who enslave and murder their fellow countrymen. Kolbe knew – and we know – that God promises rebirth, new life, reunion and new life to each of us.

I have promised, and I will do it, says the Lord.

Ezekiel uses a story of desiccated bones and broken pieces of wood to prophesy our future.

I have promised, and I will do it, says the Lord.

Let us think of all that troubles and divides us, and hand it over to God.

I have promised, and I will do it, says the Lord.

Let us think of all that breaks us and brings harm, and hand our anger over to God.

I have promised, and I will do it, says the Lord.

Let us think of all that pains us and is sorrowful, and hand the sadness over to God.

I have promised, and I will do it, says the Lord.

Oh my people! I will put my spirit in you that you may live, and I will settle you upon your land; thus you shall know that I am the Lord. I have promised, and I will do it, says the Lord. Amen.

A Favorite first posted on August 14, 2010.

For another reflection on deliverance and reunion, enter the words into the blog search bar.

Image from: https://vimeo.com/82475290

Cameron, Peter John. “Meditation of the Day.” MAGNIFICAT. 14.8 (2010). Print.

March 22, 2025

dry bones, James 2:12-13, Maximilian Kolbe, Psalm 86:11-17, rebirth

Ezekiel 37: Deliverance and Reunion

Ezekiel 37: Deliverance and Reunion

Sunday, August 11, 2024

Today we read about the dry bones brought to life out of the dust of nothingness, about Israel and Judah reuniting in the metaphor of the two sticks and the promise to us of deliverance and reunion.

Oh my people! I will put my spirit in you that you may live, and I will settle you upon your land; thus you shall know that I am the Lord. I have promised, and I will do it, says the Lord.

From yesterday’s MAGNIFICAT Evening Prayer Mini-reflection: Because we have been forgiven, we know the way of forgiveness; because we have been healed, we know the way of healing; because we have known God, we know the way of God. The gifts given to us are gifts for us to give. This introduces Psalm 86:11-17, and James 2:12-13. The citations are worth reading.

Today we celebrate the life of Saint Maximilian Kolbe, a Franciscan, who was held at Auschwitz and died on this date in 1941 when he took the place of another who was condemned to death. Kolbe acts on the hope expressed by the image in Ezekiel today, he follows Christ’s request that we refrain from judging and condemning, and he pardons those who enslave and murder their fellow countrymen. Kolbe knew – and we know – that God promises rebirth, new life, reunion and new life to each of us.

I have promised, and I will do it, says the Lord.

Ezekiel uses a story of desiccated bones and broken pieces of wood to prophesy our future.

I have promised, and I will do it, says the Lord.

Let us think of all that troubles and divides us, and hand it over to God.

I have promised, and I will do it, says the Lord.

Let us think of all that breaks us and brings harm, and hand our anger over to God.

I have promised, and I will do it, says the Lord.

Let us think of all that pains us and is sorrowful, and hand the sadness over to God.

I have promised, and I will do it, says the Lord.

Oh my people! I will put my spirit in you that you may live, and I will settle you upon your land; thus you shall know that I am the Lord. I have promised, and I will do it, says the Lord. Amen.

A Favorite from August 14, 2010.

Cameron, Peter John, Rev., ed. “Mini-Reflection.” MAGNIFICAT. 13 August 2010. Print.

Visit the Maximilian Kolbe site at: https://kolbeshrine.org/about-saint-maximilian

Image from: https://timehrhardt.com/2021/05/26/ezekiel-371-14-speak-to-the-dry-bones/ and https://kolbeshrine.org/about-saint-maximilian

August 11, 2024

dry bones, James 2:12-13, Maximilian Kolbe, Psalm 86:11-17

Tag: Maximilian Kolbe

Ezekiel 37: Deliverance and Reunion

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Ezekiel 37:21-28: Deliverance and Reunion

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Ezekiel 37: Deliverance and Reunion

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