How Does the Lord Gather?
"Every Wound for You” by Rachel Eligon
How Does the Lord Gather?
By Nate Turner
In today’s Gospel, Jesus tells us “whoever does not gather with me scatters.” The statement begs the question of “How does the Lord gather?” He first comes to us and beckons us to follow Him. With Peter, James, and John, He met them on the shoreline and called them. I almost imagine that Jesus was close enough to whisper to them, “Follow me.”
But how often do I, you, we, repeat Peter’s protest: “Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man”? (Lk 5:8)
Much of my writing is based in the crime genre, so sin is tied up with the very concept of almost every story. Many characters in my work (and other crime writers, Catholic or not) think they are locked in on their path, that turning back or turning away isn’t possible for them because of some mistake they made along the way. One bad bet, one lie, one loose word, and they think their fates are sealed. And we can think the same thing. We demand that Christ depart from us because we’re sinners. But Jesus is there, whispering and beckoning us: “Do not be afraid.” (Lk 5:10) He draws us close to Him. Even if we try to push back, He finds a way to be near us. Especially in our suffering. And in our weakness, our suffering, we can draw closer to Him.
“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted,” the psalms tell us (Ps 34:18). And on the cross, Jesus showed that there is no limit to how far He will go to be with us. He was lifted up, so that all who see Him would know that He was willing to suffer for them, and with them. He was lifted up to draw all people to Himself. So in His sorrowful passion, He reminds us not to be afraid.
St. John Henry Newman wrote in “The Mission of My Life” that he would trust God, “knowing that whatever I am, I can never be thrown away…If I am in sorrow, my sorrow may serve Him. He does nothing in vain.” I pray this Lent we can learn to have that kind of trust in Jesus, and know that He is with us as we go through struggles in life. And if we choose to walk with Him through those struggles, He is working through us to gather all the world to know His love, His truth, His life, and in the end, to know His joy.
Nate Turner is a writer/editor/podcaster based in Nebraska.
Rachel Eligon is an artist and writer living in southern California with her beloved husband, Alex. You can find out more about her on her website, rachelmeligon.com.