Editor’s Note: We continue to look at alternative texts today for Day 2 of this summer’s “The Water of Life” curriculum. Prayer: Lord God, great is your Name in all the Earth. Make us clean and holy for you. Wash us for the praise of your glory! Amen. Reading: Ezekiel 36: 22-26 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: Many years ago, if you said something “dirty” a parent or grandparent might threaten to wash your mouth out with soap. I distinctly remember my cousin running out the back door to avoid the sudsy bar headed towards his “potty mouth.” When he returned a while later, he was cautioned to keep his mouth clean. I remember my brother looked at me like he was glad that we hadn’t repeated his words. If you haven’t tasted soap, don’t put it on the menu. Soap is not meant to be licked or eaten in any way—yuck! We have all said something we regret. We might even have a swear jar to put money in if we do. As Christians, we should all be sure to make sure that we are not using God’s Name in any unholy way. OMG is not a “clean” expression. Saying “Oh G-d,” as a surprise isn’t clean either. The Prophet Ezekiel shares the desire of God for us to be a squeaky clean people. God intends to keep washing us and cleaning us up. God wants us to only use God’s name in holy and good ways. The baptismal water-life means that we can call on the Name that cleans us and God will help us. The water of baptism, remembered in sprinkling and splashing, shows us that God aims to keep our mouths, hands, feet, ears,…all of us—clean! --Andrew Fitch
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