It took a year to read the Bible, then almost 9 months to read the Apocrypha. Now, I'm going to try to offer reflections on the Narrative Lectionary. But, I won't be posting daily--at least, for a while.

Monday, November 28, 2016

All means all, a Reflection on Joel 2:12-13, 28-29

As we move through Advent, we read this message (warning?) from Joel: Sound the alarm. The day of the Lord is coming, a day of darkness and gloom. (Read Joel 2:1-11).

Yet, even in the face of our deserved judgment, the Lord continues to beckon, "Return to me."

Let us heed Joel's reminder: Rend your hearts and not your clothing (13).

What do we need to give up (or to take up) that is our way of fasting, weeping, and mourning?

Keep reading.

In verse 13, we see the familiar doxology of God's mercy (Exodus 34:5-7). Then, in verses 28-29 comes God's promise to us, all of us--old, young, male, female, free, slaves. God's spirit will be poured out on all of us so that we can prophesy, that we can dream, that we can see visions.



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