based on The Book of Ezekiel
In which a small man is exiled, his suitcase at his side. And goes on to describe terrifying visions of Jerusalem, which he thinks has prostituted itself.
For five years, the king of Judah and his court lived in exile on the banks of the river in Babylon.
One day a strange little man carrying a suitcase appeared among them.
It was Ezekiel.
God had possessed him, he said, in order to move through time and space.
A voice had told him: Son of man, stand upon thy feet and be on your way.
In the darkness of exile, he had visions that amazed him.
And made him denounce violence, terrorism, luxury, and injustice.
He saw the heavens open and divine power reveal itself like a great fire in the sky.
Out of the midst thereof came the likeness of four living creatures each with four heads: a man, a lion, an eagle, and an ox.
And four wheels of fire.
Stand! the voice commanded . . .
and behold, an hand was sent unto me; and, lo, a roll of a book therein and in it written: lamentations, mourning, woe.
Ezekiel had to eat this book. But despair turned to honey in his mouth.
One night he learned that his cherished wife had died.
In silence, he sighed, but did not put on mourning.
Everyone was scandalized. Ezekiel replied: It’s a sign from God.
Why wear mourning for your lost illusions?
He drew a map of Jerusalem on a tile.
With an assault tower, war machines, and an army laying siege.
Look, that’s Jerusalem, he said.
A little naked girl out in a field, abandoned at birth.
Bathing in her own blood.
Only God noticed her. He picked her up and washed her clean.
Jerusalem grew.
She became beautiful: shapely breasts, long, flowing hair. Embroidered robes, leather sandals, jewels.
He swore an alliance.
But Jerusalem flaunted her beauty and idolized her j ewels.
She became the whore of Egypt, of Ashur.
On the ramparts, she spread her legs.
She butchered her children and sacrificed them to idols.
The exiles understood: Our hopes are dashed. Our bones are dead. We’re done for.
But no, for neither despair nor death is the end.
For he who believes in forgiveness, history is never over.
The ruined cities will thrive once again.
A voice said: I will raise you from your graves. I will bring you back to your land.
No more idols, no more insurrections, but a pact of peace.
By my forgiveness, you will know that I am Yhwh.
And a great wind carried Ezekiel to a valley full of bones in the blazing sun.
Ezekiel said to them: Listen to the word of Yhwh; listen to him.
A breath passed over the dead and the slain.
And with a terrible din, the bones came back together again.
The flesh regrew, and the bones took on muscle and skin.
Ezekiel was then taken to see the Temple rebuilt along with the entire city and its twelve new gates.
A perfect city in every way.
Hope gives us wings. God gives us new lands where peace and justice reign.
All of God’s creation will never fear again.