Jesus the mother hen

 The image that stands out to me in this passage is of Jesus being like a mother hen, wanting to shelter her chicks under her wings. This image of Jesus, wanting to embrace and provide protection, but the people not wanting that embrace or protection.

We are at a point in the Gospel of Luke, where Jesus has turned towards Jerusalem, even though he knows Jerusalem, is not always friendly to those who bring God’s message in word and deed.  Some Pharisees tell Jesus that Herod is out to get him. And he responds by saying, I will continue to do my life’s work, I will continue to heal and renew, to cast out demons, to offer mercy and grace.

Jesus knows Herod is capable of killing him, John has already been killed because he upset Herod and Herodias. I suspect if I had a credible death threat made against me, I would be more careful, but Jesus continues to travel, teach and heal. He is not letting Herod’s threat change his life.

“Jesus’ priority does not seem to be his own safety. He instead is primarily concerned about following the divine purpose (dei) that does not direct him away from danger. It leads him directly into it and ultimately through it.”[1]

Where do we see this today?
I marvel at the Russian people who have marched against their country’s involvement in the war in Ukraine. They are arrested, and we don’t know what will happen to them, they are not deterred. It was reported on 7^th March that “More than 4,300 people arrested at anti-war protests across Russia” [2]

There are still governments around the world where you cannot speak against the regime without risking your freedom or your life. The whole point of threats to individuals or the community is to keep people in line. There are parts of the USA where it is illegal to offer food to homeless people, church volunteers and ministers are regularly arrested for continuing this ministry.

In chapter 4 of Luke’s Gospel, Jesus reads from Isaiah and says this is what I have come for – to bring good news for the poor, freedom for prisoners, sight for the blind, freedom for the oppressed.

All through the Gospels, we read of Jesus changing lives, through healing, sight, removal of demons, showing mercy, forgiving, including outcasts. Jesus changed lives when people would accept what Jesus offered. Jesus did not offer status or money or power, Jesus offered love and grace and belonging.

 ‘Jerusalem, Jerusalem! Your people have killed the prophets and have stoned the messengers who were sent to you. I have often wanted to gather your people, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings. But you wouldn’t let me.’

I wonder how Jesus spoke those words with anger, shouting; with sorrow and tears, …. I have seen this section called the lament of Jesus, which is grief and sorrow. In 2 weeks, we will read the story of the prodigal son, the third in a series of lost stories. I wonder if this is how the father in that story felt.

The image I have of a mother hen and her chicks is a pleasant image, the chickens all cosy and safe together under the mother hen’s wings which expand to include all the chicks. Sometimes this is a dangerous act for the mother, who will die to protect her chicks. But here, Jesus is saying he wants to gather the people of Jerusalem, but the people will not gather to him. Jesus wants to gather and protect, include and comfort, the people, but they refuse.

Jesus doesn’t abandon people when they refuse his love or grace or peace. The offer continues, waiting until the person is ready. Jesus didn’t do a headcount and see if it was worth continuing the journey to Jerusalem, he did it anyway.

“Jesus as a mother hen is an image of fierce love and protection. No matter how much we try to separate ourselves from God, God will run to protect us. God’s love for us is fuller than we can imagine.” Jesus is saying to you: “You are a precious child of God. God longs for you. God will gather you in.”[3]

Whatever is happening in your life, allow yourself to shelter with Jesus, like a chicken shelters under the Hen’s wings. 

Let God love you.

---

[1] https://www.workingpreacher.org/commentaries/revised-common-lectionary/second-sunday-in-lent-3/commentary-on-luke-1331-35-5

[2] https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/mar/06/4300-people-arrested-anti-war-protests-across-russia-decounce-vladimir-putin-war-ukraine

[3] Full to the brim, Sanctified Art

What is new

 It is a new year; some people make resolutions each year. A new year feels like a fresh start. It is like starting on a clean page, one that doesn’t have bits crossed out or smudged lines.  Any day can be the start of another year, some people think of their birthday as a new beginning, or the start of a month, or the new financial year.

We know, with God, every moment of every day gives us the opportunity to start over.

Resolutions are often like dreams, wishes, hopes, but ones we may not want to work at.  I have lots of books that I have not read, they look interesting or come recommended, but buying them does not mean I will read them, they will be waiting for me when I retire 😊

Some people make resolutions to exercise more, lose weight, get healthy, get a new job – resolutions are almost always about self-improvement. But making the resolution does not mean you will get fit or lose weight or be healthier or find a new job. That takes work and commitment.  

I wonder what our resolutions would be like if we thought about what God dreams for each of us. I think God’s dream for each of us is in some ways the same and in other ways different. Those of you who are parents, or aunts, or uncles will know what it is like. You want the best for each child, but the best for each child is different.

As we heard in the story the way to make God’s dream come true is by sharing, loving, caring, holding, playing, and laughing. It is being together, one big family of God, and like all families, especially large ones, there will be an amazing mixture of people in the family, some we know better than others and some seem downright strange to us, but they are all part of the family.

We have been reading through the gospel of Luke and will be for most of the year. We have moved through Chapter 1 during Advent, where we heard of Zechariah’s experience in the Temple, and Elizabeth’s pregnancy; the birth of John and Zechariah’s song; the angel and Mary having a conversation; and Mary’s visit to Elizabeth and Mary’s song.

Christmas morning, we heard the beginning of Luke chapter 2 with the journey to Bethlehem, the birth of Jesus, the angels appearing to the shepherds and the shepherds visiting Jesus.

The passage we heard this morning is a reminder that Mary and Joseph were devout Jews. At 8 days, Jesus was circumcised and named- this would have happened at home with lots of relatives in attendance. As a first-born male, at 31 days Jesus would be presented at the Temple, then at 40 days, Mary would be taken to the Temple for the rite of purification – if she had given birth to a girl, this would have been after 80 days. Then annual visits to Jerusalem at Passover.

When Jesus was being presented at the Temple, as the first-born son of Mary and Joseph, we meet Simeon and Anna. These people are reminders that the faithful people in Israel were waiting, and looking for, the promised one, the Messiah, the one who would save the people of Israel.

Luke records, Simeon took the baby in his arms and said something like: OK God, I am ready to die now, just as you said, I have seen the salvation of Israel and all people.  ‘Simeon is ready to die. Not from a sense of resignation or failure but because in this child he has been reminded of God’s indefatigable commitment to be with us and for us forever.’ [David Lose in the Meantime]

These words of Simeon’s are part of the resources for prayers at the time of dying in our prayer book – what needs to happen for you to be able to say them about your life?

Anna’s words are not recorded, but she praised God and spoke to all in Jerusalem who were waiting for the redemption of Israel. Anna lived a devout life, and now she praised God and told others what she knew, that she had seen Jesus, the promised one.

Both Anna and Simeon recognised Jesus as the one that God had promised, the one that all of Israel was waiting for.

The next we hear about Jesus is as a twelve year old, travelling to Jerusalem for Passover, and not returning with the group afterwards. The first words of Jesus recorded by Luke are: Why did you have to look for me? Didn’t you know that I would be in my Father’s house?”

And his parents did not understand what he meant. That phrase could sum up the gospel with disciples and others not understanding what Jesus is doing and saying.

One thing these first two chapters of Luke tells me is that Jesus was not born to the family of the High Priest or the Emperor, not to a movie star or a millionaire. The story of the life of Jesus, right from the beginning includes people who we could meet any day; an older couple without children, a young unmarried woman, a widow, a man who visited the Temple. Jesus grew up in a devout Jewish family, in a country under occupation. He wasn’t born with a silver spoon in his mouth.

While these days we think of Christmas as a time for children, there are no children mentioned, other than Jesus, in the first Christmas story. These two chapters of Luke’s gospel remind me how human Jesus is, how normal his childhood was, even parents who did not understand their teenager. They also remind me of God’s commitment to God’s people, all of them.

This New Year, this Christmas season, what is standing out for you? What is God nudging in you?