Joel on Lent

The lectionary reading for Ash Wednesday in this high, holy season of Lent came from Joel 2.1-2, 12-17. Dennis Olson, a former pastor and current professor at Princeton Theological Seminary, provided some commentary on this scripture reading at workingpreacher.com. His reflections at the end of the piece I believe provide us with six critical insights about Lent.

1. Judgment is coming.
2. God calls us to repent.
3. God's call to repentance comes out of love.
4. God loves us freely.
5. The time to respond is now.
6. As we repent, we pray that others respond to this call as well.

I think that sums up what these 40 days are about.