‘You are what you eat.’ Do you believe this adage? The prophet Ezekiel takes it quite seriously.

God calls Ezekiel in the year 593 BC. Ezekiel is of the priestly class but, there is a problem. Ezekiel cannot serve in the Temple because he is away from Jerusalem, living in exile in Babylon. So, God gives Ezekiel a special mission: the Lord tells him to eat a scroll filled with the Word of God. The scroll’s content is about lament and mourning, yet, strangely, it tastes sweet. Ezekiel ingests God’s scroll, it becomes part of him. It is a symbol that Ezekiel accepts the message deeply. Ezekiel becomes the priestly prophet and his mission is to proclaim God’s Word to the Israelites suffering in exile.

Jesus is the ultimate fulfilment of the Law and the Prophets. Today, Jesus encourages us to “change and become like little children” (Mt. 18:3). What does this mean? Being ‘childish’ is being immature, this is not healthy. Jesus calls us to be ‘child-like’, that is, humble and obedient to God. Children trust parents deeply, children are influenced by what parents say and do. We are to trust God deeply and let God shape us. God has a special care for children, and for all people who are particularly vulnerable. If we take Ezekiel’s example seriously, then, all the more we should learn and imbibe Jesus.