Sound the Alarm

Ash Wednesday

Joel 2:1-2, 12-17

Sound the Alarm

“Blow the trumpet in Zion; sound the alarm on my holy mountain!” (vs. 1a)

“BLOW the trumpet in Zion; sound the alarm on my holy mountain!” begins Joel chapter two; and with this mighty blast, a warning call blares out to God’s people concerning the gathering clouds, darkness, gloom, and threat that looms before them in the days to come.

What follows is a holy stand-up-and-pay-attention alert calling the Lord’s people to return to him; to come back to him with fasting, with weeping, with mourning; to rend their hearts not their clothes (v. 12-13); and in so doing, they will find him faithful – filled with grace, mercy, and never-ending love!

In many respects Ash Wednesday is the trumpet blowing in Zion. This day is sounding the alarm for Lent. Ash Wednesday is a liturgical alert, a wake-up call for God’s people. The trumpet blares, echoing across the hills and reverberating through the valleys. The trumpet call rallies us to pay close attention to our bent on drifting; to own our inclination for normalizing a growing separation from our Creator and our God; and to confess our propensity to run and to run without ever looking UP!

The technological world around us trumpets modern alarms – our iPad, Outlook, or Google calendar. These trigger our selected alerts of choice. We dutifully dash off to urgent meetings, needed rehearsals, delightful concerts, exciting ballgames, self-imposed appointments, or obligations de jour. We are accustomed to alarms and alerts. We use them to keep us on track. They call us to “pay attention.” So, what is the trumpet blowing in Zion, sounding the alarm for you to get out the door of daily busyness and meet up with God? What is the mighty blast alerting you to your commitment to prayer, scripture reading, and time with God?

This is Ash Wednesday. The trumpet is blowing in Zion. Is any one listening?

A Lenten Prayer

Lord, BLOW the trumpet! Call me out from under the gathering clouds of busyness and the dark gloom of thoughtless routine. Sound your alarm alerting me of my commitment to meet with you each day. In the name of the One who never drifted … Amen.