Joel 2:28-29. Then afterward I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; your sons and daughter will prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions. Even on the male and female slaves, in those days, I will pour out my Spirit.
Joel announced that God’s Spirit would be poured out on all people. Jesus said he would always be present and send the “promise of the Father” which was fulfilled when the Spirit descended at Pentecost. We are recipients of that same Spirit. Sometimes we need to refocus ourselves, and the season of Lent certainly is designed to help us to do that.
Joel saw the terrible devastation that came by natural causes as well as human oppression. He has sometimes been called the “liturgical prophet,” he called the people to gather in worship. To cry out to God, to repent of the ways they had contributed to the devastations, and to become prophets themselves. He wanted them to acknowledge the dreams and visions of a better world, and contribute to making the possible become actual.
We have the same opportunities. Maybe a little at a time we can see ways that we can make differences that will matter. When we put all those “littles” together, our world becomes a better place and lives are in fact changed. We are reminded that for Wesley, and the people called Methodists, putting things right was an active venture. Our heritage is one of impassioned proclamation and joyful response on behalf of all suffering from devastation and/or oppression. We are empowered by the Spirit and called to be an active part of the solution. We are encouraged to act because God’s Spirit is in us and helping make those dreams our guides for what comes next.
Stand By Me
When the storms of life are raging,
stand by me.
When the world is tossing me,
like a ship upon the sea,
Thou who rulest wind and water,
stand by me.
We thank you God for being the source of our confidence. With your Spirit, we can change ourselves, and those things that need us to respond. We are yours and you are ours. Thank you for your love and your patience, Amen
Pastor David Brosnan