A priest and prophet among the Israelites exiled in Babylon. Through visions such as the valley of dry bones, he proclaimed the hope that God would give his people a new heart and a new spirit.
Life
Ezekiel was a prophet of Israel in the sixth century BC, from a priestly family. Around 597 BC he was taken into exile in Babylon with many from Jerusalem, and it was there that God called him.
He saw an astonishing vision of God's glory. At first he warned of Jerusalem's fall, and after its destruction he proclaimed hope. The vision of dry bones coming back to life and God's promise to give a new heart and a new spirit are among the best-known passages of the Book of Ezekiel.
Spirituality
Ezekiel's spirituality is hope in the midst of despair. To a people who had lost their homeland and lived in a foreign land, he proclaimed that God was still with them and could bring the dead back to life. His message reveals a God who turns hearts of stone into living hearts.
Reflection
Ezekiel saw the breath of life sweep over dry bones. What part of me has dried up, and will I invite God's Spirit into it?