Ezekiel 9:1-7,10:18-22; Psalm 112(113):1-6; Matthew 18:15-20
The message that Ezekiel is required to pass on today is tough: as tough and in many ways similar to the Passover, with much slaughter and destruction foretold! As in the Passover, those marked with a sign will be untouched.
The sign is a cross. Now, this is many years before Christ's’ crucifixion so this is not that cross. The X was in Hebrew where we would now use a ‘t’ and was known as a TAW. That might simply mean “not this one” but a somewhat convoluted explanation is sometimes offered. The numeric value for TAW would be the same as for ‘YHW’, which we can say as Yaweh; but for Jews would be impossible to say as that is God’s name. So, ‘t’ or TAW is a way of writing God’s name without actually writing God’s name.
Each one of us baptised as a christian has the sign of the cross marked on our foreheads in holy oils as part of that ceremony - we are all marked with the name of God so that we shall be saved.
Today we can (optionally) celebrate the great Saint Maximilian Kolbe.
O God, who filled the Priest and Martyr Saint Maximilian Kolbe with a burning love for the Immaculate Virgin Mary and with zeal for souls and love of neighbour, graciously grant, through his intercession, that, striving for your glory by eagerly serving others, we may be conformed, even until death, to your Son.
Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.
Amen.