Catholic Commentary on Ezekiel 9

“Go throughout the city of Jerusalem and put a mark on the foreheads of those who grieve and lament over all the detestable things that are done in it.” (Ezekiel 9:4)

The Marking and the Slaughter

Ezekiel sees six executioners and a seventh man clothed in linen with a writing kit. The LORD says to the man in linen: go throughout the city of Jerusalem and put a mark on the foreheads of those who grieve and lament over all the detestable things that are done in it. Then he tells the executioners: go throughout the city and strike down everyone without pity. Begin at my sanctuary. The elders in front of the temple are killed first. Ezekiel cries out: sovereign LORD, are you going to destroy the entire remnant of Israel? God answers: the sin of Israel is exceedingly great. The people say the LORD has forsaken the land. Therefore I will not look on them with pity; but I will bring down on their own heads what they have done.

The Catechism identifies the mark on the forehead of those who grieve as the precursor to the seal of Baptism: the mark that identifies those who belong to God and are protected from judgment (CCC 1295).

Living the Word

Brothers and sisters, the mark is placed on those who grieve and lament over the detestable things done in the city. The righteous remnant is identified not by power or prestige but by grief over the community's sin. Are you troubled by what troubles God in your community? The grief is the sign. Let it mark you.

Prayer

Lord God, mark us as those who grieve and lament over the detestable things done in our city. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

9
Execution of the Idolaters
1 Then I heard Him call out in a loud voice, saying, “Draw near, O executioners of the city, each with a weapon of destruction in hand.”
 
2 And I saw six men coming from the direction of the Upper Gate, which faces north, each with a weapon of slaughter in his hand. With them was another man clothed in linen who had a writing kit at his side. And they came in and stood beside the bronze altar.
 
3 Then the glory of the God of Israel rose from above the cherubim, where it had been, and moved to the threshold of the temple. And He called to the man clothed in linen who had the writing kit at his side. 4 “Go throughout the city of Jerusalem,” said the LORD, “and put a mark on the foreheads of the men sighing and groaning over all the abominations committed there.”
 
5 And as I listened, He said to the others, “Follow him through the city and start killing; do not show pity or spare anyone! 6 Slaughter the old men, the young men and maidens, the women and children; but do not go near anyone who has the mark. Now begin at My sanctuary.”
 
So they began with the elders who were before the temple.
 
7 Then He told them, “Defile the temple and fill the courts with the slain. Go forth!”
 
So they went out and began killing throughout the city.
 
8 While they were killing, I was left alone. And I fell facedown and cried out, “Oh, Lord GOD, when You pour out Your wrath on Jerusalem, will You destroy the entire remnant of Israel?”
 
9 He replied, “The iniquity of the house of Israel and Judah is exceedingly great. The land is full of bloodshed, and the city is full of perversity. For they say, ‘The LORD has forsaken the land; the LORD does not see.’ 10 But as for Me, I will not look on them with pity, nor will I spare them. I will bring their deeds down upon their own heads.”
 
11 Then the man clothed in linen with the writing kit at his side reported back, “I have done as You commanded.”

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