Ash Wednesday

But there’s also this, it’s not too late—

    God’s personal Message!—

“Come back to me and really mean it!

    Come fasting and weeping, sorry for your sins!”

Change your life, not just your clothes.

    Come back to God, your God.

And here’s why: God is kind and merciful.

    He takes a deep breath, puts up with a lot,

This most patient God, extravagant in love,

    always ready to cancel catastrophe.

Who knows? Maybe he’ll do it now,

    maybe he’ll turn around and show pity.

Maybe, when all’s said and done,

    there’ll be blessings full and robust for your God!

Blow the ram’s horn trumpet in Zion!

    Declare a day of repentance, a holy fast day.

Call a public meeting.

    Get everyone there. Consecrate the congregation.

Make sure the elders come,

    but bring in the children, too, even the nursing babies,

Even men and women on their honeymoon—

    interrupt them and get them there.

Between Sanctuary entrance and altar,

    let the priests, God’s servants, weep tears of repentance.

Let them intercede: “Have mercy, God, on your people!

    Don’t abandon your heritage to contempt.

Don’t let the pagans take over and rule them

    and sneer, ‘And so where is this God of theirs?’”

At that, God went into action to get his land back.

    He took pity on his people.

-Joel 2:12-18 (MSG)