Dear Friends,
In Matthew 13, Jesus tells this story.
“The reign of God is like a dragnet thrown into the lake which collects all sorts of things. When it was full, they hauled it on shore and sat down to put what was worthwhile into containers. What was worthless, they threw away.”
On local farms, in our minds, in our houses and garages, we gather all kinds of things to be sorted out later. To gather and to sort are age-old human activities. In these summer months, what have we gathered and of these, what have we sat down to sort out? Or have we just kept gathering, putting off sorting until some distant future.
Jesus is the Great Gatherer of people. In his public ministry, he did not sort out the good from the bad. He accepted people as they were and helped them in whatever ways he could. Think of Levi, the publican who became Matthew, the adulterous woman in John 8, the Gerasene demoniac in Mark 5, Judas, Peter and Mary Magdalen. Jesus gathered them, and while interacting with them, he helped them sort out in themselves what needed to be retained and what needed to be discarded.
Consider all that we have gathered this summer - new thoughts, values, questions, stuff that are now in our closets, kitchens and memories and, garages. How will we sort out all we have accumulated? Here are some questions that I’ve found helpful. Maybe you will too.
What is my intuition about what I have gathered?
Do I value it? Feel happy about it?
Does the Holy Spirit nudge me about what to do with what I have gathered?
Will my having these things be an inspiration to others?
For how long will I keep what I have gathered?
Forever?
Do I hold it close and then let it go? Shall I give away what I gather so that others can benefit? What has happened to me in the past when I selfishly held on to what I have gathered?
As Labor Day approaches, and we turn to a new phase of the year, let’s also turn our thoughts and imagination and consciousness to what we have gathered. Let’s begin the sorting out process,
toss out rigidity and manipulation,
condescension and caste systems,alienation in its many forms.
Collect laughter and tears,
truth-telling and peacemaking, tenacity and resistance.
Among the summer’s gatherings,
let’s find mystery and awe to hold up to the sunlight.
Hold fast to solidarity and cooperation.
Cherish words of faith, hope and love that people have offered us.
Gather family stories with all their twists and turns.
We need not be afraid to gather. Our nets and bins will not break, and who knows what we will bring forth can nourish us and our world.
Over these thoughts, we pray:
Give me the courage to sort what I gather, Lord, today, tomorrow and into my old age. Let all that I gather be sorted in Your Name. Amen.
~ Sister Joan Sobala
