lectionary.com

Lenten Season · Ash Wednesday · Year C

Joel 2:12-18

Rend Your Heart

March 1, 2028

The Prophet Joel, Michelangelo
The Prophet Joel, Michelangelo, 1509Sistine Chapel, Vatican City
Another of the ceiling's prophets, Joel unrolling a scroll with both hands and reading intently along it.Rend your hearts and not your clothing: these are Joel's words, and he is painted in the act of reading them off the roll.MichelangeloSculptor first and painter under protest, who spent four years on his back on the Sistine ceiling and produced the most consequential painting in Europe.Sistine Chapel, Vatican CityThe pope's chapel, where conclaves are held, decorated by Perugino, Botticelli and Ghirlandaio before Michelangelo was ever asked.Sistine Chapel, Vatican City
Roman Lectionary
GospelMatt. 6:1-6, 16-18Mt 6:1-6, 16-18
Second Reading2 Cor. 5:20-6:22 Cor 5:20-6:2
First ReadingJoel 2:12-18Jl 2:12-18
Responsorial PsalmPs. 51:3-4, 5-6ab, 12-13, 14, 17Ps 51:3-4, 5-6ab, 12-13, 14, 17

Overview & Insights

“Return to me with all your heart… and rend your hearts and not your garments.” (Joel 2:12-13)

This is one passage in Joel where it is absolutely necessary that we understand what the original Hebrew says, because the NIV translation has missed the force of the opening words. Verse 12 begins with “ But even now,” the “but” being translated from what is known as a waw adversative, and it is that “but” that is all important.

From Sermons.com: Join Today to access the most scholarly & well written preaching resources anywhere.

Take it further: Joel 2:12-18

Commentary

Working Preacher: Commentary on Joel 2:1-2, 12-17Working Preacher: Commentary on Jl 2:1-2, 12-17 Working Preacher

Covers the Ash Wednesday form of this same passage in the RCL.

Enduring Word: Joel 2 CommentaryEnduring Word: Jl 2 Commentary Enduring Word · David Guzik

Verse-by-verse walk through the Day of the Lord and the call to repent.

BibleHub: Joel 2 CommentariesBibleHub: Jl 2 Commentaries BibleHub

Multiple classic commentaries stacked at verse 12, where the call to return begins.

Precept Austin: Joel 2 CommentaryPrecept Austin: Jl 2 Commentary Precept Austin

A conservative, resource-heavy verse-by-verse treatment of the chapter.

StudyLight: Joel 2, Barnes' NotesStudyLight: Jl 2, Barnes' Notes StudyLight

Barnes' classic notes add a fifth distinct commentary voice on the text.

Background & Word Study

BibleHub Interlinear: Joel 2:12BibleHub Interlinear: Jl 2:12 BibleHub

The Hebrew of shuvu (return) word by word.

Sefaria: Joel 2:12-18Sefaria: Jl 2:12-18 Sefaria

The Hebrew text with Jewish translation and commentary layers.

BibleProject: Book of Joel OverviewBibleProject: Book of Jl Overview BibleProject

An animated overview of Joel's structure and Day-of-the-Lord theme.

The Church Fathers

Catena: Joel 2Catena: Jl 2 Catena

Patristic readings of the trumpet call and the call to rend hearts.

Questions preachers ask

What does Joel call for?

The Lord calls his people to true repentance, not outward show but a torn heart, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in love.

Prep at sermons.com

Ready to write?

  • Full sermons on Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18
  • Illustrations cleared for use in worship
  • Commentary, quotes, and Bible dictionary
Open it at sermons.com →

Trusted by pastors since 1995.

Free every Tuesday

Illustrations & Sermon Prep in your inbox

The coming Sunday’s readings, a cleared-for-use illustration, and a sermon-prep head start. One email, free.