"'Even now,' declares the Lord, 'return to me with all your heart, with fasting and

Even now! This exclamation comes at a time when Israel's unfaithfulness has gone on for so long that a floodtide of justice begs to be unleashed. But behold, and wonder at the divine reluctance to abandon people to the consequences of their own behavior. No pit of human evil is so deep that God will not descend into it to retrieve a soul that calls to him for help. It is never too late to turn to the Lord.