Optional Memorial of Saint Pontian, Pope and Martyr

Brief Background:

St. Pontian was pope from 230–235 AD. During the persecution of Christians under Emperor Maximinus Thrax, he was arrested and exiled to the harsh mines of Sardinia. While in exile, Pontian resigned as pope so that the Church could elect a successor and would not be left without pastoral leadership. He later died from the brutal treatment he endured and is honored as a martyr.

St. Pontian is the patron saint of persecuted Christians, Church unity and reconciliation, those suffering exile or imprisonment for the faith and faithful Christian leadership in times of hardship

REFLECTION:

I’ve heard people use the phrase, “I could see the writing on the wall.” We usually say that when the signs are already there. Something is about to happen, and if you’re paying attention, you can see where things are headed. Interestingly, that actual phrase comes later in the Bible, in the Book of Daniel. But I think the expression fits what is happening with Ezekiel today.

Continuing with Ezekiel this week, God has a problem: the people aren’t listening. God even says that they have “eyes to see but do not see, and ears to hear but do not hear.” So God does something interesting. If they won’t listen to Ezekiel, maybe they’ll watch Ezekiel.

God tells him to pack his belongings as though he is going into exile. And He specifically tells Ezekiel to do it “while they are looking on.” Then, in the evening, Ezekiel is supposed to dig through the wall, carry his belongings on his shoulder, cover his face, and leave.

Imagine being Ezekiel’s neighbor. You look outside and Ezekiel is packing. Later you look again and now he’s digging a hole through the wall. At some point you're going to say, “Ezekiel! What are you doing?” And that was exactly the point. God was putting the “writing on the wall” right in front of them. Jerusalem was heading toward destruction and exile. God had already spoken through His prophet, but because they refused to listen to the words, God gave them something they could see. And I wonder how often God does the same thing with us.

Sometimes we pray, “God, give me a sign.” And maybe God is thinking, Another one? Because sometimes the writing is already on the wall. Maybe several people have told us the same thing about ourselves. Maybe the same problem keeps happening in our relationships. Maybe we keep experiencing the consequences of the same choices. Maybe we know our prayer life has become weak. Maybe we know there is someone we need to forgive, a habit we need to change, Confession we need to make, or something we need to finally address.

Sometimes the problem isn't that God isn't speaking. The problem is that we don't like what the signs are telling us.

That was Israel’s problem. They had eyes. They had ears. They even had Ezekiel acting everything out right in front of them. The writing was on the wall, but they still didn't want to read it.

So perhaps the question for us today is simple: What is the writing on the wall in my life? What has God been showing me lately that I haven't wanted to see? What has He been telling me that I haven't wanted to hear? Because God doesn't warn His people simply to frighten them. He warns them because He loves them and gives them an opportunity to change.

So when we see the writing on the wall, don't ignore it. Don't wait for God to have Ezekiel start digging through the wall to finally get our attention.

See it. Listen to it. Pray about it. And then have the courage to do something about it.