I have always loved the song “Gather Us In”, with words and music by Marty Haugen. It’s a song we frequently hear during Mass and it includes the lines:

Gather us in, the lost and forsaken

Gather us in, the blind and the lame

Call to us now and we shall awaken

We shall arise at the sound of our name

Initially, I was drawn to these Beatitudes inspired expressions which suggest the ultimate elevation of “the lost and forsaken” and “the blind and the lame”. More recently, I have been reflecting on the notion of God drawing us closer to him and the essence of what it actually means for him to “gather us in”.

The initial prompt for this was when I heard Fr. Mike Schmitz describe sin as “an attempt to be happy apart from God.” I had also previously read another description of sin as “anything that separates us from God.” Both definitions liken the notion of sin to being distant from God. Therefore, our goal in avoiding sin is to draw closer to Him. This provides a helpful frame of reference; a visual metaphor related to proximity.

Let’s go with this idea of space and measurement to think about our faith lives and the quest to become disciples of Christ. Ultimately, we seek to follow… which is another reference to space and distance. We can follow closely or from afar. The true disciple’s objective is to follow closely.

On the accompaniment theme and whenever we pray for the Lord’s presence in our lives, particularly when things are rough and when we or someone we care about is suffering, we ask that Jesus remain close to us during those times. Another reference to the idea of distance.

I believe there are important implications for our prayer. Ultimately, we pray to connect with something greater than ourselves, whether to seek comfort or guidance or to express glory and gratitude. We hope to align our hearts, express our hopes, and deepen our sense of purpose. We desire to draw nearer to God. We hope to follow and to follow closely.

I have begun to more directly and clearly connect my own prayer with this notion of closeness, thinking often about the visual metaphor. Like the father who came out of his house to welcome the prodigal son home, there is a two-way dimension to this that is worth considering. The father approached the son just as the son simultaneously approached him.

When I pray… regardless of type or style, regardless of whether it includes a petition, an expression of gratitude, or an acknowledgement of God’s great glory, I ask that the Father will draw me to him. Will gather me in.

The Proximity Prayer:

Dear Lord, gather me in

Bring me nearer to you

Please give me all that I need to draw closer

As did the prodigal son, help me to pursue you

As did his father, welcome me to you

Lift me up in my weakness

Cleanse me of my sin

In humility I ask, be by my side

Help me to feel your presence in my life

And may I always follow you… and closely