Jerusalem had been destroyed and the people were in exile. Ezekiel was encouraging the people by talking of the restoration that would occur. The Israelites would be gathered and brought into their own land where they would be cleansed from all unrighteousness. God would give them a new heart and a new spirit - their heart of stone would be replaced with a heart of flesh. The people would follow the way of the Lord and would obey God's statutes. This is the way that God has set out for all of humankind. May we learn to follow God's way of love and grace.

The parable of the wedding banquet is about those who accept and those who reject the invitation of Jesus. The people who were first invited were too busy to accept the invitation. They did not realise the importance of the occasion. They were wrapped up in their own busyness. So instead, the invitation was sent out to everyone else. Many came but the one who came without a wedding garment was thrown out. Why? The invitation to follow Jesus must be taken seriously, not half-heartedly. We must be willing to accept the call wholeheartedly. When we do so, God will give us a new heart and a new spirit.