Ezekiel 33: 7-9
Thus says the Lord:
So you, mortal, I have made a sentinel for the house of Israel; whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me. If I say to the wicked, “O wicked ones, you shall surely die,” and you do not speak to warn the wicked to turn from their ways, the wicked shall die in their iniquity, but their blood I will require at your hand. But if you warn the wicked to turn from their ways, and they do not turn from their ways, the wicked shall die in their iniquity, but you will have saved your life.
New Revised Standard Version, copyright 1989, by the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. USCCB approved.
The Importance of Faithful and Engaged Community
In our increasingly insular world, a true sense of community is easily lost. We often live far from family and are disconnected from neighbors, colleagues and those from other generations. Today’s Old Testament reading from Ezekiel reminds us of the value and responsibility these vital bonds provide.
Ezekiel highlights our collective duty by appointing community members as "watchmen for the house of Israel." This role remains critical today. By serving as invested, humble guides, we can offer care, insight, and perspective to those who begin to stray…and others can do the same for us.
Embracing this calling ensures people feel seen and supported through life's daily struggles. Caring for one another at the local level does more than build social ties; it allows the presence of the Trinity to manifest deeply, strengthening and sustaining us collectively.
—Br. Mark Trombley, SJ, is a Jesuit of the Midwest Province studying philosophy at Loyola University Chicago and working at Loyola Academy in Wilmette, IL.
Prayer
Prayer for a Watcher’s Heart
Heavenly Father,
In a quiet and isolated world where we so easily slip into our own routines, we confess that we often lose sight of the people right next to us. We live far from family, pass by our neighbors in silence, and look right past others in our lives. Forgive us for the times we have let convenience pull us apart.
Today, you call us through the Prophet Ezekiel to a higher purpose: to be ‘watchers’ for one another. Grant us the courage and the humility to accept this sacred responsibility. Awaken our hearts to be invested guides who notice when a sister or brother begins to stray. Give us the gentle insight and perspective needed to step in with love, not judgment, providing care and guidance.
Help us to look out for the lonely and those facing life's heavy challenges. May our local communities become places where your holy presence is tangible. Let the grace of your Holy Trinity manifest deeply within our shared bonds, strengthening and sustaining us collectively as one body in your name…
Amen
—Br. Mark Trombley, SJ