God’s Gathering Love

Devotional Reflection, Tuesday, December 20. 2022

The week of the fourth Sunday of Advent

The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D.

Key phrases for reflection from today’s reading:

10 On that day the root of Jesse shall stand as a signal to the peoples; the nations shall inquire of him, and his dwelling shall be glorious.

11 On that day the Lord will extend his hand yet a second time to recover the remnant that is left of his people, from Assyria, from Egypt, from Pathros, from Ethiopia,* from Elam, from Shinar, from Hamath, and from the coastlands of the sea.

12He will raise a signal for the nations,

and will assemble the outcasts of Israel,

and gather the dispersed of Judah

from the four corners of the earth.

(You will find the full text of today’s Isaiah reading at the end of this reflection.)

Daily Office Lectionary Readings (BCP, 938)

AM Psalm 66, 67; PM Psalm 116, 117

Isa. 11:10-16; Rev. 20:11 - 21:8; Luke 1:5-25

Today we celebrate the Feast of Kathrarina von Bora. (See below.)

David’s Reflections

Christmas, for many families, involves regathering, often three or more generations for meals, the exchange of gifts, and catching up on each other’s lives. Other gatherings are less traditional but profoundly meaningful. One December Monday, I watched seven students from Randolph Macon College gather in a coffee shop in Ashland, VA to share gifts before heading home for the holiday. The pandemic will limit our travel and gathering this year, which will lessen the joy of this season.

The image of God in this Isaiah oracle I find deeply moving. The prophet Isaiah preached after Judah’s brothers and sisters in the northern kingdom of Israel had been gobbled up and assimilated into the Assyrian Empire (the ten tribes that had separated from David’s kingdom after the death of his son Solomon). He feared a similar fate for little Judah.

But, in this visionary oracle, Isaiah looks ahead to the time of salvation and sees God regathering those who had been devastated and dispersed. The oppressors would be judged and the oppressed would be gathered and nurtured by God.

Each Sunday we gather around God’s holy table to celebrate Holy Communion. Those weekly gatherings portend God’s final gathering of all of us unto Godself and into community with all those who have died in faith.

Our mission to the world grows out of that weekly gathering. God seeks to gather all people unto God’s love and saving grace. We who already have been gathered grieve over the empty spaces around God’s table and those wandering without forgiveness and transformation and loving community. Our prayers, our outreach, our witness, our online presence, our publicity, and all that we are and do seeks to create a safe space and to extend a hospitable invitation for any and all who would risk giving themselves over to the love of God or simply may be curious about matters spiritual and religious.

At this Christmas season, I pray that your holiday gatherings will be truly joyful; and, I pray that you will find yourself even more deeply involved in the effort to gather gently and kindly all to God’s love. Even if the pandemic forces you to limit in-person gathering, you can supplement that with telephone and video conference calling. Some of that gathering work takes place by involvement in the local church’s mission. Some takes place out of your own personal mission where you work, where you live, where you go to school, and where you play. But, all represents our joining in God’s great gathering work.

And, God’s gathering work persists through the COVID 19 pandemic and even finds new modes of expression. We have learned much over the last almost three years and our expression of God’s mission will not be the same.

Collect of the Day, The fourth Sunday of Advent

Purify our conscience, Almighty God, by your daily visitation, that your Son Jesus Christ, at his coming, may find in us a mansion prepared for himself; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (BCP, 212)

Today we celebrate the Feast of Kathrarina von Bora, church reformer (died 20 Dec 1552 CE). http://www.satucket.com/lectionary/Katharina_von_Bora.html

Collect of the Feast of Kathrarina von Bora

Almighty God, who called your servant Katharina von Bora from a cloister to work for the reform of your church: Grant that, for the sake of your glory and the welfare of your church, we may go wherever you should call, and serve however you should will; through Jesus Christ, our only mediator and advocate. Amen.

A Collect for Peace

O God, the author of peace and lover of concord, to know you is eternal life and to serve you is perfect freedom: Defend us, your humble servants, in all assaults of our enemies; that we, surely trusting in your defense, may not fear the power of any adversaries; through the might of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (BCP, 99)

Of the Departed

Eternal Lord God, you hold all souls in life: Give to your whole Church in paradise and on earth your light and your peace; and grant that we, following the good examples of those who have served you here and are now at rest, may at the last enter with them into your unending joy; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (BCP, 253)

A Prayer for Light

Grant us, Lord, the lamp of charity which never fails, that it may burn in us and shed its light on those around us, and that by its brightness we may have a vision of that holy City, where dwells the true and never-failing Light, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (BCP, 110)

A Collect for Mission

Almighty and everlasting God, by whose Spirit the whole body of your faithful people is governed and sanctified: Receive our supplications and prayers which we offer before you for all members of your holy Church, that in their vocation and ministry they may truly and devoutly serve you; through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. (BCP, 100)

Daily Office Old Testament Lesson, Isaiah 11:10-16

10 On that day the root of Jesse shall stand as a signal to the peoples; the nations shall inquire of him, and his dwelling shall be glorious.

11 On that day the Lord will extend his hand yet a second time to recover the remnant that is left of his people, from Assyria, from Egypt, from Pathros, from Ethiopia,* from Elam, from Shinar, from Hamath, and from the coastlands of the sea.

12He will raise a signal for the nations,

and will assemble the outcasts of Israel,

and gather the dispersed of Judah

from the four corners of the earth.

13The jealousy of Ephraim shall depart,

the hostility of Judah shall be cut off;

Ephraim shall not be jealous of Judah,

and Judah shall not be hostile towards Ephraim.

14But they shall swoop down on the backs of the Philistines in the west;

together they shall plunder the people of the east.

They shall put forth their hand against Edom and Moab,

and the Ammonites shall obey them.

15And the Lord will utterly destroy

the tongue of the sea of Egypt;

and will wave his hand over the River

with his scorching wind;

and will split it into seven channels,

and make a way to cross on foot;

16so there shall be a highway from Assyria

for the remnant that is left of his people,

as there was for Israel

when they came up from the land of Egypt.

Daily Prayer Offices in The Book of Common Prayer

Morning Prayer, Rite 2, page 75, Book of Common Prayer

Noonday Prayer, p. 103, Book of Common Prayer

Order of Worship for Evening (Vespers), p. 109, Book of Common Prayer

Evening Prayer, Rite 2, page 115, Book of Common Prayer

Compline (Night Prayer), Page 127, Book of Common Prayer

Daily Devotionals, page 136, Book of Common Prayer