Behold, I make all things new!

Zephaniah 3:14-20

⁴Sing aloud, O daughter Zion;
 shout, O Israel!
 Rejoice and exult with all your heart,
 O daughter Jerusalem!
 ¹⁵The LORD has taken away the judgments against you,
 he has turned away your enemies.
 The king of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst;
 you shall fear disaster no more.
 ¹⁶On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem:
 Do not fear, O Zion;
 do not let your hands grow weak.
 ¹⁷The LORD, your God, is in your midst,
 a warrior who gives victory;
 he will rejoice over you with gladness,
 he will renew you in his love;
 he will exult over you with loud singing
 ¹⁸as on a day of festival.
 I will remove disaster from you,
 so that you will not bear reproach for it.
 ¹⁹I will deal with all your oppressors
 at that time.
 And I will save the lame
 and gather the outcast,
 and I will change their shame into praise
 and renown in all the earth.
 ²⁰At that time I will bring you home,
 at the time when I gather you;
 for I will make you renowned and praised
 among all the peoples of the earth,
 when I restore your fortunes
 before your eyes, says the LORD.

Scattered People, Gathered People

In the scripture for today, the people of Israel are in exile. They have been scattered like chaff to the wind, and no longer reside in their homeland. Into this seemingly broken and hopeless situation, separated from community and roots, done with the intention of destroying both, the people of Israel receive a promise of redemption from God: that God will gather together this scattered people, and bring them home. God speaks into that time of hopelessness and speaks words of hope. God speaks into times of darkness and speaks words of light. 

It is not unlike the continuing revelations about assimilation attempts of Native people on this continent, particularly with the separation of children from their communities and roots, with the intention of destroying both. God’s promise to the people of Israel continues to speak today: God is gathering together all who have been scattered, grounding communities with rich cultural practices and meaningful roots. When all seems lost or broken, God’s promise is to find and restore. 

During this Advent season and time in history, we wait, but God’s promise will hold true, to gather together a scattered people, and bring us home.  

God of restoration, when we lack hope, give us courage and peace to trust in your promises of restoration. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen. 

Rev. Aaron Silco, Shishmaref Lutheran Church, Shishmaref