Then I myself will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the lands where I have driven them, and I will bring them back to their fold, and they shall be fruitful and multiply. — Jeremiah 23:3.
Jeremiah’s promise in 23:3 speaks of a shepherd’s heart yearning to gather the scattered remnants of his flock. I can identify. This year’s Lenten journey often feels shadowed by division, a stark landscape of “we versus them.”
Though we may not possess the oratorical power to move nations with words echoing from Gettysburg or the Capitol Mall, within each of us resides the spirit of the “good shepherd,” capable of tending to the lost on a personal scale. Our work unfolds not in grand pronouncements, but in the quiet grace of individual connection, reaching out to those who feel adrift and unseen. We gather not by demanding they walk our path or mirror our reflections, but by offering the unwavering light of love, the solid ground of genuine value, and the gentle embrace of sincere respect. These acts become the quiet call that whispers of belonging, guiding individuals back to their “fold,” reminding them of the inherent worth that transcends the fractured walls of our time.
This Lent, our call is deeply personal: to actively seek those who have drifted, offering the unconditional love, value, and respect that affirms their place. In this season of perceived division, we are summoned to the intimate work of gathering and return.
Excellent guidance and words of wisdom!
Thanks my friend.