Ash Wednesday
“Rend your hearts, not your garments.” (Joel 2.13a) Rend is a word we encounter seldom in the English language. In reflecting on the readings today it became clear that Lent is a process by which we rend our hearts. Rend in its best sense here means to tear apart fiercely. Joel is making clear that this change that is to occur in us is not superficial. He is challenging the people of God to give everything they have over to the Lord. Only a heart that has been rigorously broken open is ready to return fully to the Lord. Only a heart that has no more protection is truly ready to receive God’s grace and mercy.
God communicates grace and mercy through forgiveness. Today’s psalm affirms Joel’s challenge that we receive forgiveness through the process of being responsible for the sin we have done. Part of this being responsible is found in recognizing the hurt we have done, asking for forgiveness with a contrite heart, and then allowing the Lord’s compassion to wipe out our offense. Nowhere in today’s scriptures does it say this will be easy. On the contrary, Joel’s words suggest that this process might rip our hearts apart. Indeed, most of us can think of times when our hearts have been shattered. How did the Lord use that event, or events to bless us in the end?
Although it may not feel like a blessing initially, good things can come out of broken hearts. The morning was nearly twenty years ago now. Mom called at 7:30 am. Without saying more than my name I knew my life was turned upside down. The death of a loved one can bring even the best of us to despair. While the tragedy of that death is still not quite blessing, many good things have occurred because of his death. Good things like family taking each other less for granted.
Like the tragedies in our life, the Lenten disciplines in which we participate may not always make sense at times. Yet, if we see them through the lens of Joel’s words we may understand that: God is not made in our image; we are made in God’s. How is the Lord calling you into a deeper relationship this Lent? Use this time to allow God to rend your heart so that with all you do, you will be an ambassador for Christ.
- Michael Montgomery