Fourth Sunday of Lent, Year B, First Reading (2 Chronicles 36:14-16, 19-23)

14 Furthermore, all the leaders of the priests and the people became more and more unfaithful, following all the detestable practices of the nations and defiling the temple of the Lord, which he had consecrated in Jerusalem. 15 The Lord, the God of their ancestors, sent word to them through his messengers again and again, because he had pity on his peopleContinue reading “Fourth Sunday of Lent, Year B, First Reading (2 Chronicles 36:14-16, 19-23)”

Plowshares into Swords (Joel 3:9-16)

9 Proclaim this among the nations: Prepare for war! Rouse the warriors! Let all the fighting men draw near and attack. 10 Beat your plowshares into swords and your pruning hooks into spears. Let the weakling say, “I am strong!” 11 Come quickly, all you nations from every side, and assemble there. Bring down your warriors, Lord! 12 “Let the nations be roused;Continue reading “Plowshares into Swords (Joel 3:9-16)”

Judgment on the Nations (Joel 3:1-8)

“In those days and at that time, when I restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem, 2 I will gather all nations and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat. There I will put them on trial for what they did to my inheritance, my people Israel, because they scattered my people among the nations and divided up myContinue reading “Judgment on the Nations (Joel 3:1-8)”

God Answers His People (Joel 2:18-27)

18 Then the Lord was jealous for his land and took pity on his people. 19 The Lord replied to them: “I am sending you grain, new wine and olive oil, enough to satisfy you fully; never again will I make you an object of scorn to the nations. 20 “I will drive the northern horde far from you, pushing it into a parched and barren land; itsContinue reading “God Answers His People (Joel 2:18-27)”

A Terrible Army (Joel 2:6-11)

6 At the sight of them, nations are in anguish; every face turns pale. 7 They charge like warriors; they scale walls like soldiers. They all march in line, not swerving from their course. 8 They do not jostle each other; each marches straight ahead. They plunge through defenses without breaking ranks. 9 They rush upon the city; they runContinue reading “A Terrible Army (Joel 2:6-11)”

The Day of the Lord (Joel 2:1-5)

Blow the trumpet in Zion; sound the alarm on my holy hill. Let all who live in the land tremble, for the day of the Lord is coming. It is close at hand—2     a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness. Like dawn spreading across the mountains a large and mighty army comes, such as never was inContinue reading “The Day of the Lord (Joel 2:1-5)”

Cry to the Lord (Joel 1:13-20)

13 Put on sackcloth, you priests, and mourn; wail, you who minister before the altar. Come, spend the night in sackcloth, you who minister before my God; for the grain offerings and drink offerings are withheld from the house of your God. 14 Declare a holy fast; call a sacred assembly. Summon the elders and all who live inContinue reading “Cry to the Lord (Joel 1:13-20)”

Mourn for the Nation (Joel 1:5-12)

5 Wake up, you drunkards, and weep! Wail, all you drinkers of wine; wail because of the new wine, for it has been snatched from your lips. 6 A nation has invaded my land, a mighty army without number; it has the teeth of a lion, the fangs of a lioness. 7 It has laid waste my vines and ruined myContinue reading “Mourn for the Nation (Joel 1:5-12)”

Locusts (Joel 1:4)

4 What the locust swarm has left the great locusts have eaten; what the great locusts have left the young locusts have eaten; what the young locusts have left other locusts have eaten. Four words are used in this verse to describe locusts, although their meaning is not entirely clear. Some scholars think that four different kinds ofContinue reading “Locusts (Joel 1:4)”

The Start of the Book of Joel (Joel 1-3)

The word of the Lord that came to Joel son of Pethuel. 2 Hear this, you elders; listen, all who live in the land. Has anything like this ever happened in your days or in the days of your ancestors? 3 Tell it to your children, and let your children tell it to their children, and their children to the next generation.Continue reading “The Start of the Book of Joel (Joel 1-3)”

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