March 1, 2017 in Bishop, Bishop messages
‘Return to Me With All Your Heart’
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. — Joel 2:12-13
Yet even now return to me with all your heart. As we begin the Holy Lenten season this year, this reminder from the prophet Joel spoke to me in a compelling way. My heart been in my throat, on my sleeve, and way too attuned to the headlines and daily newsfeeds. I have been paying enormous amounts time, energy and stress worrying about what is going on in our neighborhoods, our country and the world. Perhaps you are feeling this way also. The Lord God knows the intentions and brokenness of our hearts and bids us to put God first especially in scary and uncertain times. Today I gladly return to the Lord, retuning my heart to the One who embraces us through the distress and directs again and again to hope, grace, mercy, forgiveness, and the love that is offered to us new every day.
- Bishop Claire S. Burkat
