Stroll through Scripture for December 8, 2024

Based on Joel 2:12-13, 28-29

The second week of Advent often carries the theme of “Peace.”  When we think of that in relation to the Narrative Lectionary selected reading from Joel, it might make more sense to think of peace in terms of right relationship because that’s what is really going on in the reading.  

The prophet Joel is a later prophet – he is working after the exile and return of Israel to the promised land.  Much of Joel’s writing calls on the faithful to lament and mourn Israel’s difficult situation and return to the Lord.  His message seems to resonate with 21^st Century America in many ways.  The church is really good at funerals, but terrible at mourning.  And we have many people in the church who have never had the opportunity or even know how to mourn what happened to the church or what they believe happened to the church over the last several decades.  If we don’t make peace with our past, we’ll never be fully present.  And if we aren’t fully present, we won’t be open to hearing how Jesus is calling his church to live into the mission God has for the church in this time and place.  

The selected passage starts with an interesting phrase – “Yet even now…”. According to the Lutheran Study Bible, it represents an “abrupt shift” from troubles and suffering to hope. 

What are the Yet even nows of our time and place?  

The prophet calls on his hearers and readers to “return to the Lord” with all your heart.   This implies that there has been separation.  Exile is a form of separation.  People aren’t just returned to the land, but also return to right relationship with God. 

So much of this is about preparation.  We mourn to make peace with the past.  It prepares our hearts and minds like a field being tilled, ready for a new season of growth.  And it takes time.  Growing is not instantaneous.   You don’t just do one thing and step away.  You must continue to tend the field.  

Mourning isn’t a once and done thing either – which is why our culture is so bad at it.  Our culture wants us to move on quickly, rather than take time to reflect, learn, and grow.  But our faith offers a different way.  

And like water being poured out on a field to help the crop grow, God speaks through the prophet’s words in telling us that God will “pour out my spirit on all flesh.”  

This is a week of peace, of right relationship with God.  

Questions for reflection

• What are the yet even nows of our time and place?  What are those things that offer an abrupt change that re-orients us towards hope?  
• What are the things and people that you need to take time to mourn? 
• How is God pouring out God’s spirit on people?