Epiphany

February 24, 2020

Scripture Reading: Joel 2:1-2, 12-17 or Isaiah 58:1-12

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.
Who 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? –Joel 2:12-14

I do not know whether it is the Russians who are causing the chaos rampant in the USA or the devil itself. I do know that the only way for God’s children to be rid of chaos’s control is to return to God with all our hearts. I am reminded of the story of Elijah climbing the mountain to seek what? Escape from the world or closer communion with God? On the mountain top he is confronted with even more chaos:

[God] said, ‘Go out and stand on the mountain before the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.’ Now there was a great wind, so strong that it was splitting mountains and breaking rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of sheer silence. When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. Then there came a voice to him that said, ‘What are you doing here, Elijah?’  –I Kings 19:11-13

I think perhaps Elijah came to the realization on the mountain that the power of God exceeds all the threats of evil in our world and that once we except that in the depths of our being we are ready to seek the path we need to take to return to God in our quest for a loving world.

As we approach the beginning of Lent with Ash Wednesday, let us open our hearts and minds to God’s guidance to find the road we need to follow.

Prayer: God, forgive us for getting so caught up in the chaos of our world that we forget the very source of the world and all that is in it. Cleanse us with your love and guides us in your ways. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.