Joel 2:12-13(NRSV)
Yet even now, says the Lord,
return to me with all your heart,
with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning;
rend 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.
Yet even now, says the Lord,
return to me with all your heart,
with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning;
rend 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.
return to me with all your heart,
with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning;
rend 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.
To rend something is to tear or rip it apart in two. Often, in mourning, Hebrew people would tear their garments in two in their grief.
So to prepare for our coming Lord, rather than tearing apart our clothing, God seeks our hearts to be torn in two.
To be opened up.
Ripped apart from those things that keep us from God.
Do you remember what it is like to have your heart broken? It isn't normally something we seek or long for to happen.
Yet the breaking of our hearts makes us softer and more vulnerable.
It creates space for something new to happen inside of us.
Through us.
To us.
What is it that breaks your heart today?
Whatever it is, can that breaking apart lead to a breaking in by God?
Create in me a new heart, Oh God! One that is ripe for your arrival! Amen
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