DYNAMIS!
A publication of St. George Orthodox Christian Cathedral
Wichita, KS
Joel 4:12-21 (02/22 or 03/06) Vesperal Reading, Wednesday,
Week Before the Great Fast
Fasting and Judgment: Joel 4:12-21, especially vs. 12: “Let all the nations rouse themselves and come up to
the Valley of Jehoshaphat, for there I shall sit to judge all the nations round
about.” With the Great Fast soon upon us, the Church provides this Vesperal reading from the Prophet Joel that focuses on the
Great Day of Judgment - history’s culmination. On that day all men will stand before
the risen Christ, He Who was arrested, tried, condemned, and died. To be precise: the once slain and forever
risen Lord will, at the last Day, pass judgment on every one who has lived
through all history. Men, women,
all of God’s children through Adam, will stand before Him in the
‘Valley of the Lord’s Judgment’ (‘Jehoshaphat’ in
Hebrew - see Joel 4:12).
Joel’s warning at the threshold of the
Great Fast pleads that we prepare for the coming, dread Day of the Risen
Lord. While we are free to go
mindlessly on into eternal darkness, we may, instead, prepare for eternal Life
and salvation. Let us heed the
Prophet, choosing to struggle for purity within ourselves against ubiquitous
evil. The Righteous Joel pleads;
let us attend and prepare for our Savior, for otherwise we face desolation and
violence, now and ever.
In the coming Fast we have an opportunity to
awaken our hearts and minds to the Holy One Who is calling us to the regimen of
the Fast. He would not have us
limit our food intake in some narrow, slavish obedience to rules. In Lent, our Lord asks that we reshape
our lives toward Himself: “Turn to Me with all
your heart, with fasting, wailing, and with mourning; rend your heart...”
(Joel 2:12,13).
Saint Athanasios also directs us to the
particular command of the Lord, to “...sanctify a fast...” (Joel
2:15), reminding us that, “...the boast of fasting did no good to the
Pharisee, although he fasted twice in the week, only because he exalted himself.”
Rather, let us remember the dread Day of
Judgment and allow the Prophet’s call to rouse us for true Lenten
efforts. The Prophet Joel’s
description of the Day of Divine Judgment is terrifying (Joel 4:15-16); yet he
explicitly speaks of the Lord securing and blessing His People in the same
message (vss. 16-17). He leaves no
doubt that God will make inquisition for the righteous blood of His
people. Conversely, Joel reveals
that when God judges, He will separate: “...sheep from goats, left from
right, the guilty from the children of the kingdom” (Mt. 25:32,33; Joel 4:19-21).
Which path will we choose since the two destinations are so plainly
evident?
The Righteous Joel’s description of
judgment is severe: God will cut down, tread upon, press all evil-doers,
“...for their wickedness is multiplied” (vs. 3:13). The Lord’s judgment will include
repayment for crimes and wrongs.
There will be a roaring noise from the multitudes of the wicked facing
the cost of their wicked acts (vs. 14).
Many will be thrust into eternal darkness without consolation or created
light (vs. 15).
However, when the Lord shakes the heaven and
the earth on Judgment Day, He will also “...keep
His people safe and shall strengthen the sons of Israel” (vs. 16). He speaks of His Church purified of all
transient ‘strangers’ (vs. 17). Thus, Christ the Lord will say, “I
never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice
lawlessness!” (Mt. 7:23).
Those who claim they ‘belong’ to Christ, yet scoff at His
call to purity, will be separated forever.
Finally, the Prophet declares that the
Children of God will have sweet wine, flowing milk, springs of water, and an
eternal habitation with the Lord (Joel 4:18), and that all who persecute and
wreak havoc among God’s People shall meet the Lord’s prophesy:
“...I shall avenge their blood and shall not let it go unpunished”
(vs. 21). Lent is God’s gift
to use well!
Thou made us
immortal, that Thou mightest grant us life, O Christ
God, through resurrection.
Return to the February Calendar