PHOTO: Mary van Balen “Even now, says the Lord, turn to me with your whole heart, with fasting, and weeping, and mourning. Rend your hearts, not your garments, and turn to the Lord, your God. For God is great and merciful, slow to anger, rich in kindness, and relenting in punishments…” Joel
“Brothers and sisters: We are ambassadors for Christ, as if God were appealing through us…Working together, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain. For he says: ‘In an acceptable time I heard you, and on the day of salvation I helped you. ‘ Behold, now is a very acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” Paul 2Corinthians
“And your Father who sees in secret, will repay you.” Matthew
The Hebrew word, “shub” used in the reading from Joel, is often translated “return.” But, in this reading Joel gives no indication that he is asking the people to return from a particular transgression. Rather, he implores them to “turn” to God, to ask God’s help in dealing with the devastating drought and plague of locusts that has disrupted all aspects of their lives. I changed the translation of the word in the reading above.
Pondering what seems the slight difference between “turn” and “return” has been fruitful for me this Ash Wednesday. Return” brings to mind distance, the need to traverse space, physical or in this case, spiritual, that separates. On the other hand, “turn” indicates that one need only change orientation or look in a particular direction to connect with the object of desire.
What strikes me is the truth that God is present to us in every circumstance, in every moment. The Holy One has not removed the Divine Self from us, requiring long journeys or difficulties to “come back.” Just the opposite is true. Through the wonder of the Incarnation, Jesus reveals that God dwells not outside of us at all, but rather in our hearts, in our center. We have only to turn and become aware of that Presence within.
Such closeness means God is with us when we are not aware of that Holy Presence as well as when we are. God stays with us in our darkness and difficulties, even if they are of our own making as well as in our light and joys. God is with us always. As Francis Thompson concludes in his poem “The Hound of Heaven,” we cannot escape the Love of God.
Holy Love dwells within. Our Lenten practices do not bring us “back to God.” God has never left. Instead, they quiet us, removing us from activity so we can hear the Voice. That is our fasting. They slow us down so we have time to look. They turn our gaze to the Indwelling in those around us and in the world we live in. That prompts our almsgiving. They provide opportunity to realize the we rest in the Holy Mystery. That is our prayer.
Unlike the pharisees in the gospel reading today, we are not to look for reward from others. Notoriety is not our goal. For Christians, the goal is always oneness with Christ. Our Lenten practices serve to deepen that relationship that is constantly available to us. As Paul reminds us, we have no need to wait to begin such disciplines: Now is an acceptable time.
“…now is the day of salvation.,” he continues. As we embrace this Lenten season, we can remember that the salvation we seek is not our own, it is redemption of the world, of which we are a part. God’s indwelling makes that possible. Holy Love that animates all is our hope.
Blessed Lent.
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