Gathered together
Last week I sat in an Alpha group in prison, and one woman summed it all up better, “I’ve learned my life is a car-crash if God doesn’t drive. So, every morning I hand him the keys”.
I had that in my mind as I heard the news about Charlie Kirk. Such tragic waste – multiple lives mangled - his wife and children left without a dad, Tyler, only 22, trying to win an argument with a bullet, Tyler’s family whose son’s future has been thrown away. So sad.
Where is comfort to be found? In God - who grieves with us. Today, I read of Jesus lamenting over Jerusalem, “Oh Jerusalem, Jerusalem, how I have longed to gather your children together as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings” (Luke 13:34)
I had always read that verse as meaning God longs to gather us near him, which he does, but actually here Jesus speaks of God’s desire to gather us together. It is such a profound longing that the Maker of all grieves when we are divided.
God grieves when his church fractures, when his children fight. But we need to know this is not a passive grief - it propelled our Saviour to the Cross, to reconcile us with him and with each other.
God laments when we are divided. That’s why Paul says – “Make every effort to keep the unity of the bond of peace”. It does entail huge effort – when politics and religion and misunderstandings and grudges and social media divide us. But this is the fierce longing of God - to gather us together.
Last week, an amazing group of people gathered to launch Ashes to Crowns in London – people from different political perspectives and backgrounds, joining together with the wonderful charity, AtaLoss, for a common vision to bring comfort to many. I am so thrilled that all the profits are going into giving it away. It was a night that proclaimed that God brings beauty from ashes, promising hope that arches over the brokenness of this world, bringing us us together. We would love you to be part of this - either through praying or giving or buying the book here!
May the God of hope give you hope today, whatever you are facing,
With my love,
Kate
