June 15th - Reflection

2 Chronicles 30:1-12 (NRSV)

The people return to the Lord

Hezekiah sent word to all Israel and Judah, and wrote letters also to Ephraim and Manasseh, that they should come to the house of the Lord at Jerusalem, to keep the passover to the Lord the God of Israel. For the king and his officials and all the assembly in Jerusalem had taken counsel to keep the passover in the second month (for they could not keep it at its proper time because the priests had not sanctified themselves in sufficient number, nor had the people assembled in Jerusalem). The plan seemed right to the king and all the assembly. So they decreed to make a proclamation throughout all Israel, from Beer-sheba to Dan, that the people should come and keep the passover to the Lord the God of Israel, at Jerusalem; for they had not kept it in great numbers as prescribed. So couriers went throughout all Israel and Judah with letters from the king and his officials, as the king had commanded, saying, "O people of Israel, return to the Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, so that he may turn again to the remnant of you who have escaped from the hand of the kings of Assyria. Do not be like your ancestors and your kindred, who were faithless to the Lord God of their ancestors, so that he made them a desolation, as you see. Do not now be stiff-necked as your ancestors were, but yield yourselves to the Lord and come to his sanctuary, which he has sanctified forever, and serve the Lord your God, so that his fierce anger may turn away from you. For as you return to the Lord, your kindred and your children will find compassion with their captors, and return to this land. For the Lord your God is gracious and merciful, and will not turn away his face from you, if you return to him."

So the couriers went from city to city through the country of Ephraim and Manasseh, and as far as Zebulun; but they laughed them to scorn, and mocked them. Only a few from Asher, Manasseh, and Zebulun humbled themselves and came to Jerusalem. The hand of God was also on Judah to give them one heart to do what the king and the officials commanded by the word of the Lord.

Reflection
Return to the Lord. Many times I run away from God. I fail to do what God has commanded. I need to humble myself and return to the Lord. When I return God always welcomes me and makes my heart one with his children. But first I need to stop and listen to the voices of the messengers sent to correct me in my path. I need to hear those who tell me to return to the sanctuary, be humble, repent and be one with God. And then...

It is my turn to go out into the kingdom, to risk ridicule and laughter, and to speak boldly to those who are lost, to return to the Lord. Return to the Lord for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love. Thanks be to God!

Prayer
Lord, here I am once again, returning to you. Returning and humbling kneeling in your presence. I give you thanks for those bold messengers you send my way that tell me to return. Make me one with your children this day so that we may reflect the love you have shown to each and all of us. --- Amen