3 月 10 日.预苦期第一周.星期一
官佰佺荣誉会督 神恩堂
经文-约珥书 2：1-2， 12-17
1.你們要在錫安吹角，在我聖山吹出大聲。國中的居民都要發顫；因為耶和華的日子將到，已經臨近。
2.那日是黑暗、幽冥、密雲、烏黑的日子，好像晨光鋪滿山嶺。有一隊蝗蟲（原文是民）又大又強；從來沒有這樣的，以後直到萬代也必沒有。
12.耶和華說：雖然如此，你們應當禁食、哭泣、悲哀，一心歸向我。
13.你們要撕裂心腸，不撕裂衣服。歸向耶和華─你們的神；因為他有恩典，有憐憫，不輕易發怒，有豐盛的慈愛，並且後悔不降所說的災。
14.或者他轉意後悔，留下餘福，就是留下獻給耶和華─你們神的素祭和奠祭，也未可知。15.你們要在錫安吹角，分定禁食的日子，宣告嚴肅會。16.聚集眾民，使會眾自潔：招聚老者，聚集孩童和吃奶的；使新郎出離洞房，新婦出離內室。
17.事奉耶和華的祭司要在廊子和祭壇中間哭泣，說：耶和華啊，求你顧惜你的百姓，不要使你的產業受羞辱，列邦管轄他們。為何容列國的人說：他們的神在哪裡呢？
1.对经文的反思
约珥书中的这段经文有力地提醒我们悔改的迫切性和上帝无尽的怜悯。犹大人被呼召回到上帝身边，认识到他们需要上帝的宽恕和恢复。在四旬期的旅程中，我们被邀请反思自己的内心和生活，正视我们可能偏离上帝的地方--无论是通过行为、态度，还是在敬拜中的疏忽。就像犹大一样，我们也会远离上帝，被生活的忙碌所困，或被自己的欲望所扰。
回归耶和华 "的呼召不仅仅是要我们远离罪恶，而是要我们与神建立一种新的关系，一种以神的恩典、怜悯和忍耐为基础的关系。约珥提醒我们，上帝 “有恩典，有怜悯，不轻易发怒，满有慈爱”。祂希望我们的心完全属于祂，并随时准备宽恕那些真诚悔改的人。四旬斋是寻求上帝宽恕的最佳时机，因为我们知道，当我们回到祂身边时，祂会给予我们爱和怜悯。让我们带着谦卑和信心走近这个四旬期，相信上帝的仁慈会在我们所处的地方与我们相遇，并带领我们重获新生。
2. 回应祷告
主啊，我们大能的避难所，我们安息在你不可动摇的爱和保护中。在恐惧和不确定的时刻，我们相信你是我们恒久的庇护所。你是我们的力量和拯救者，永远信实地保护我们的安全。我们感谢你的怜悯、恩典与平安。当考验包围我们时，我们会坚定地站立，因为我们知道你与我们同在。我们赞美你的名，寻求你的指引，因为你永远不会抛弃我们。在您的关爱中，我们找到了安息。奉耶稣之名，我们祈祷。阿门。
3. 应用
预苦期是反思我们与上帝关系的时候，我们要认识到自己在哪些方面偏离了上帝。约珥对悔改的呼召邀请我们审视自己的内心，承认我们在哪些方面需要上帝的医治和宽恕。悔改不仅是为了远离罪恶，也是为了接受上帝的恩典，上帝的恩典会使我们恢复和更新。这个四旬期为我们提供了一个机会，让我们把重担交给上帝，相信祂的仁慈会在我们软弱的时候满足我们。让我们谦卑地回到祂身边，让祂的宽恕为我们的生命带来平安和改变。
10 March The Monday in the First Week of Lent
Bishop Emeritus Rev James Kwang Immanuel Methodist Church
Scripture: Joel 2:1-2, 12-17
1.Blow a trumpet in Zion;
sound an alarm on my holy mountain! Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble, for the day of the LORD is coming; it is near, 2. a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and thick darkness!
Like blackness there is spread upon the mountains a great and powerful people; their like has never been before, nor will be again after them through the years of all generations.
12.“Yet even now,” declares the LORD, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; 13 and rend your hearts and not your garments.” Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and he relents over disaster.
14 Who knows whether he will not turn and relent, and leave a blessing behind him, a grain offering and a drink offering for the LORD your God?
15 Blow the trumpet in Zion; consecrate a fast; call a solemn assembly;
16 gather the people. Consecrate the congregation; assemble the elders; gather the children, even nursing infants. Let the bridegroom leave his room, and the bride her chamber.
17 Between the vestibule and the altar let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep and say, “Spare your people, O LORD, and make not your heritage a reproach, a byword among the nations.[a] Why should they say among the peoples, ‘Where is their God?’”
1.Reflections on the Scripture
This passage from Joel is a powerful reminder of the urgency of repentance and God's boundless mercy. The people of Judah are called to return to God, recognizing their need for His forgiveness and restoration. As we journey through Lent, we are invited to reflect on our own hearts and lives, confronting areas where we may have strayed from God—whether through actions, attitudes, or neglect in worship. Like Judah, we too can become distant from God, caught up in the busyness of life or distracted by our own desires.
The call to "return to the Lord" is not just about turning away from sin, but about embracing a renewed relationship with God, one grounded in His grace, compassion, and patience. Joel reminds us that God is "gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in love." He desires our hearts to be fully His and is always ready to forgive those who sincerely repent. Lent is the perfect time to seek God’s forgiveness, knowing that when we return to Him, He will extend His love and mercy. Let us approach this season with humility and faith, trusting that God's mercy will meet us where we are and lead us to restoration.
2. Prayer in response
O Lord, our mighty refuge, we rest in Your unshakable love and protection. In times of fear and uncertainty, we trust that You are our constant shelter. You are our strength and deliverer, always faithful to keep us safe. We thank You for Your mercy, grace, and peace. When trials surround us, we will stand firm, knowing You are with us. We praise Your name and seek Your guidance, for You will never abandon us. In Your loving care, we find our rest. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
3. Application
Lent is a time to reflect on our relationship with God, recognizing where we may have drifted from Him. Joel’s call to repentance invites us to examine our hearts, acknowledging areas where we need God’s healing and forgiveness. Repentance is not only about turning from sin, but about embracing His grace, which restores and renews. This Lenten season offers us the chance to surrender our burdens to God, trusting that His mercy will meet us in our weakness. Let us return to Him with humility, allowing His forgiveness to bring peace and transformation to our lives.