Clergy from left, Deacon Amy Schmuck, Deacon Cynthia Biddlecomb, retired, The Rev. Mary Ann Hill and The Rev. Lynn Finnegan. Photo by Nate Limback/ladailypost.com
By Deacon Amy Schmuck
Bethlehem Evangelical Lutheran Church
“Yet even now,” declares the LORD, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.” Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity. Joel 2:12-13 (NIV)
This article marks the third Sunday of the Christian season of Lent, the 40 days of preparation before we celebrate Easter. Last week, my fellow columnist Rev. Lynn wrote about Jesus’ example to us for entering a wilderness time, and she mentioned that support for engaging in a wilderness for 40 days is readily available in our worshiping Christian communities. It is a time for intentional ‘slowing down’ or quieting our hearts to connect with God and ourselves a bit more intimately. It is a time to reflect on our faithfulness and prepare our hearts for reconciliation with God in the weeks approaching Holy Week and Easter. God calls to us “return to me” through many of the prophets in the Old Testament (Hosea, Zechariah, Jeremiah, Isaiah).
Then, God sent us John the Baptist and Jesus in our New Testament to let us know NOW is the time to repent, the kingdom of God is near.
This text from Joel tells us to “rend your heart and not your garments” meaning, look deep within yourself, and do more internal work with God. The rending of clothing was the outward expression of grief, of sorrow, or of repentance for the Israelite people. Joel asks for our hearts to be broken open rather than just our clothing, so God may enter in with God’s love.
I particularly appreciate the prophet Joel’s words here in the text above describing how God is gracious, compassionate, slow to anger, and abounding in love. God is faithfully awaiting our repentance, or our “returning” to be in right relationship again with Godself. The free will given by God to us humans, leaves it up to us to make that first step in God’s direction.
The practices of Lent help us to find our way back through prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. These may look different for many Christians. Some people give extra monetary funds to their church or other charitable organizations. Some people volunteer their free time to serve causes close to their hearts. Some people engage in extra prayer or worship with their communities like our local ecumenical “Lent University” each Sunday 4:00-6:00 each week of Lent at The First United Methodist Church. Some people fast, or “give up” something consumable to be mindful and grateful for the nourishment of their bodies this food provides.
Some people “do something more” rather than fast like spend more time outdoors connecting to God through nature or connect in person with friends or neighbors more often rather than “doom scrolling” on social media too long. Some people participate in the pilgrimage to Chimayó on Good Friday to give honor and thanks to God for all the blessings bestowed on us, and petition God’s mercy on us along the way.
In whatever ways you prepare your hearts and minds for the coming Holy Week, please remember what Joel said, that God “relents from sending calamity”. God truly loves you; you are precious in God’s sight always. God awaits your return with open arms, and an incomprehensible, steadfast, gracious, abundant love no matter who you are or what you have done. God’s love waits for you to take that one small step into reconciliation and eternal life with God. Through the life, death and resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus the Christ, we give thanks for these 40 days and the friends who support us through it. Amen.
Editor’s note: ‘All Shall Be Well’ is a column written by local women clergy including The Rev. Mary Ann Hill, Rector, Trinity on the Hill Episcopal Church (momaryannhill@gmail.com); The Rev. Lynn Finnegan, Associate Rector, The Episcopal Church of the Holy Faith, Santa Fe (rev.lynn@holyfaithchurchsf.org); Deacon Amy Schmuck, Bethlehem Evangelical Lutheran Church (deaconamy@bethluth.com); and ELCA Deacon Cynthia Biddlecomb, M.Div., retired (czoebidd@gmail.com).