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A Rendezvous With God

Part 3: Reconciling with God


by GLORY E. DHARMARAJ *

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 God is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love,
and relents from punishing.
Who knows whether God will not turn and relent,
and leave a blessing behind God,
a grain offering and a drink offering
for the Lord, your God?
Blow the trumpet in Zion;
sanctify a fast;
call a solemn assembly;
gather the people.
Sanctify the congregation;
assemble the aged;
gather the children,
even infants at the breast.
Let the bridgegroom leave his room,
and the bride her canopy.

Between the vestibule and the altar
let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, weep.
Let them say, “Spare your people, O Lord,
and do not make your heritage a mockery,
a byword among the nations.
Why should it be said among the peoples,
‘Where is their God?’”
Joel 2:12-17

The Prophet Joel says repentance is a need for everyone. He urges the young and old, lay and clergy, children and parents, brides and bridegrooms to take time to reconcile with God.

Sin is cutting off from God, the source of all life. Repentance is an intentional effort to change directions we are heading, to realign our priorities, to redirect our journeys toward God. John Wesley would say, “Restore – Make up to you.”

Repentance is an act of transformation. When individuals and faith communities repent, they turn around. They get the right map for their lives from God. They follow God’s guidance.

The God of steadfast love says to those who repent:

“When you are with me, you are on holy ground. When you live in me, and I in you, you live sacramentally.”

The Lenten season is an annual reminder that we are called to live in relationship with God, and therefore, peaceably with our neighbors.

PRAYER:
Create in me a clean heart O God,
and put a new and right spirit within me.
Do not cast me away from your presence,
and do not take away your holy spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
and sustain in me a willing spirit. Amen.
Psalm 51:10-12

*Glory E. Dharmaraj, Ph.D., is director of spiritual formation and mission theology for the Women’s Division of the United Methodist General Board of Global Ministries.

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