Imagining the Lectionary: I will gather you together and bring you home again (Advent 3C)

Imagining the Lectionary: I will gather you together and bring you home again (Advent 3C)

Reflection accompanying image “Footprints on the beach leading away from a storm ”

On that day I will gather you together and bring you home again (Zephaniah 3:20)
John said to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who
warned you to flee from the wrath to come? (Luke 3:7)

Two sets of footprints stretch back across the wet sand of the beach, leading our gaze towards the dark storm clouds and heavy rain beyond. The direction of travel leads away from the bad weather and indicates that this journey was begun not a moment too soon. This is also a hike made in company; it is not a solitary undertaking but one which relies on companionship. The walkers have been hand-hold close to each other, within whispering distance. This is the biblical picture of God's ongoing pilgrimage with humanity that informs John the Baptist's public ministry. Whisper close, always walking us out of the storm and into the light, God is the close companion who never gives up on us. Through exile and calamity the Bible describes how God keeps faith with the wayward people who collectively so readily lose faith in God's way and fail to progress in God's direction. Yes there is judgement, lots of it. But always there is hope and promise too. The footsteps never diverge: God keeps close even when we travel in a reciprocal direction to the one God intends.

Continues...