Saturday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time
October 14, 2023

Today’s Readings:

https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/101423.cfm

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Today, in God’s Lavish Mercy, Joel launches into a cautionary poem replete with metaphors. His images are so effective that, even 3000 years later, many will be very familiar to us from the liturgy and even from modern culture.

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Some of my readers may be of an age to remember the wonderful film “The Valley of Decision” starring two of the all-time greats, Greer Garson and Gregory Peck. The film’s title is plucked right out of Joel.

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Apply the sickle,
for the harvest is ripe;
Come and tread,
for the wine press is full;
The vats overflow,
for great is their malice.
Crowd upon crowd
in the valley of decision;
For near is the day of the LORD
in the valley of decision.
Sun and moon are darkened,
and the stars withhold their brightness.
The LORD roars from Zion,
and from Jerusalem raises his voice;
The heavens and the earth quake,
but the LORD is a refuge to his people,
a stronghold to the children of Israel.

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By using metaphors, the poet-prophet accomplishes an extensive lesson that, delivered in prose, would have exhausted his beleaguered audience.

Metaphors have a way
of holding the most truth
in the least space.

Orson Scott Card

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Like all prophets, Joel employs current events to point to a deeper understanding. Many of the metaphors he uses throughout his prophecy have been employed in the liturgy, particularly during Lent. Joel’s message is a universal call to repentance germane to every generation, but particularly to that liturgical season.

Yet even now,’ declares the Lord,
‘return to me with all your heart,
with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning;
and rend your hearts and not your garments.

Joel 2: 12-13

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In our Gospel. the core of Joel’s message is given direct and fuller voice in Jesus’ statement:

Blessed are those
who hear the Word of God
and observe it.

Luke 11:28

In our own lives – our own “valleys of decision”, this is the foolproof way we prepare for the Day of the Lord – hearing and observing the Word of God.

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Music: Valley of Decision – Christafari

(When I read about Christafari, I am reminded that we can never underestimate or judge the many ways that people come to Christ.)

Christafari was founded in 1989 by Pastor Mark Mohr. Raised in a Christian family, during his teens Mohr strayed from his spiritual upbringing and turned to drugs and alcohol, going as far as growing and even dealing marijuana. After running away from home, living on the streets, and hitting rock-bottom, he had an undeniable encounter with God that drastically transformed his world. At 17, Mark re-committed his life to Christ and took what he now calls his “Freedom Step” out of addiction.

Christafari is comprised of men and women from various continents, countries, and cultures who are true missionaries at heart and share a love for reggae music and passion for following Jesus to the ends of the earth.

Run come and fall
People take heed to His call
Valley of decision
(Valley of decision)
This is no game
People have to die in His name
Valley of decision
(Valley of decision)
Darkness, it looms all around us
I find it hard to see
But I don’t know, I don’t know, I don’t know, I don’t know, I don’t know
Whether I should stay or whether I should flee
People all around me seem, they seem to be so sad
I hear them cry, I hear them ball
I see them back against the wall
I wish I could wipe away their tears
There’s a Holy
A Holy hill
Holy mount Zion
Holy, Holy mount Zion
Just know that He’s the Lord, Your God, yeah
In this valley of decision
Valley of decision
Even though I run through enough hills and valleys
I fear no evil, ’cause God is with me
Even though I run through enough hills and valleys
Thy rod and staff, they will comfort me
Even though I run through enough hills and valleys
I fear no evil, ’cause God is with me
Even though I run through enough hills and valleys
Thy rod and staff, they will comfort me
Run come and fall
People take heed to His call
Valley of decision
(Valley of decision)
This is no game
People have to die in His name
Valley of decision
(Valley of decision)
There’s a Holy
A Holy hill
Holy mount Zion
Holy, Holy mount Zion
Just know that He’s the Lord, Your God, yeah
In this valley of decision
Valley of decision
Even though I run through enough hills and valleys
I fear no evil, ’cause God is with me
Even though I run through enough hills and valleys
Thy rod and staff, they will comfort me
Even though I run through enough hills and valleys
I fear no evil, ’cause God is with me
Even though I run through enough hills and valleys
Thy rod and staff, they will comfort me
Jah great and dreadful day will soon come
Jah will pour out His mighty, mighty, mighty Spirit to all mankind
Through Him all creation, all creation was made
Those who call upon His name
(Call on His name and You will be saved)
There’s a Holy
A Holy hill
Holy mount Zion
Holy, Holy mount Zion
Just know that He’s the Lord, Your God, yeah
In this valley of decision
Valley of decision
Run come and fall
People take heed to His call
Valley of decision
(Valley of decision)
This is no game
People have to die in His name
Valley of decision
(Valley of decision)
Even though I run through enough hills and valleys
I fear no evil, ’cause God is with me
Even though I run through enough hills and valleys
Thy rod and staff, they will comfort me
Even though I run through enough hills and valleys
I fear no evil, ’cause God is with me
Even though I run through enough hills and valleys
Thy rod and staff, they will comfort me
Even though I run through enough hills and valleys
I fear no evil, ’cause God is with me
Even though I run through enough hills and valleys
Thy rod and staff, they will comfort me