The poignant words of the prophet Joel should have deep relevance and meaning for this Ash Wednesday, for it is a clarion call to remembrance and reflection. The prophet calls the people to repentance and urges a sincere return to God. The various passages of the prophet’s entire oracle to Judah, whose language is reminiscent of Isaiah, Obadiah, Zephaniah, Malachi, and Jeremiah in their reference to the “Day of the Lord,” “the enemy from the North,” and “judgment on foreign nations,” contains a heightened sense of urgency for the people of God. Joel’s lament is that the day of the Lord is coming. Such events in ancient times had portended “seismic disturbances” of disastrous proportions. The prophet’s warning contains elements of pessimism and hope, despair and joy. The people have been fa…