Advent Word: Gather

On the 14th day of Advent today's Advent Word is 'gather'.

Gather always sounds to me like a strangely old fashioned word, but rich in meaning. It can be used in so many different contexts: to gather people together, to gather things that are separated, to gather crumbs under a table.

This image of part of a bronze statue of a shepherd in Cumbria, England, show him holding a lamb. I love the detail, the purposefulness of his walk and the way he is looking up, his attention focused.

This image reminds me of words from Isaiah's vision of God comforting his people:

"He will feed his flock like a shepherd; 

he will gather the lambs in his arms, 

and carry them in his bosom, 

and gently lead the mother sheep."

Isaiah 40: 11 NRSV

Image Credit: Des Colhoun on Geograph, Creative Commons License