repentance and mercy

Good morning sisters and brothers,
Our reading from today is from the prophet Joel. When we think of prophets often we think about predicting the future. Israel's prophets were more focused on interpreting the present from God's standpoint. Their main role was to call the people of Israel back to living the way they were supposed to live. Joel probably ministered in the 400's BC, which is after Judah's return from exile. The main event of his ministry that he interpreted was a massive invasion of locusts that threatened the economic health of the nation. Joel's message is that this disaster is judgment from God for Israel's unfaithfulness. His goal is to call the people to repent, to turn back to God.

In this passage Joel appeals to the people to repent and to God to be merciful. Part of the appeal to God is based on the argument that when the nation is devastated it looks bad for God. God responds to the appeal with jealousy for the people and restores their fortunes. It can be challenging to see how God's purposes are worked out in everyday life, and some popular attempts to do that come to pretty questionable conclusions. At the same time we can look at the world around us with a view to what God is calling us to do. God's mercy gives us hope and the promise that in the end love will triumph over evil gives us courage.

God bless,
Sam


Joel 2:12-19

12Yet even now, says the Lord, return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; 13rend your hearts and not your clothing. Return to the Lord, your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, and relents from punishing. 14Who knows whether he will not turn and relent, and leave a blessing behind him, a grain offering and a drink offering for the Lord, your God?

15Blow the trumpet in Zion; sanctify a fast; call a solemn assembly; 16gather the people. Sanctify the congregation; assemble the aged; gather the children, even infants at the breast. Let the bridegroom leave his room, and the bride her canopy. 17Between the vestibule and the altar let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, weep. Let them say, “Spare your people, O Lord, and do not make your heritage a mockery, a byword among the nations. Why should it be said among the peoples, ‘Where is their God?’”

18Then the Lord became jealous for his land, and had pity on his people. 19In response to his people the Lord said: I am sending you grain, wine, and oil, and you will be satisfied; and I will no more make you a mockery among the nations.