May the mumbling commence!
What a vivid image! Jesus is like a hen gathering her chicks under her wings. It is not an image that we hear about often. It occurs at the end of Luke chapter thirteen. Read it below:
"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! Look, your house is left to you desolate. I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.'" (Verses 34-35)
So many of the images that we have of God are masculine. This image is unabashedly feminine. This image should draw our attention. It comes at the end of a chapter in Luke filled with righteous confrontation. It softens the righteous anger to reveal the anger for the love and care that it represents. Read some passages from earlier in Luke chapter thirteen:
Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. Jesus answered, "Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them – do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish." (Verses 1-5)
Our newspapers and TV news programs are filled with stories of seemingly senseless tragedy. One of the most recent tragedies happened close to where I grew up – Chardon, Ohio. A sixteen-year-old went on a shooting rampage that killed three students.
They were so young. Did they deserve to die? Were they worse sinners or more guilty than the students who survived? Jesus says, “I tell you, no!” Jesus knows that human life is fragile. That is why there is a call to repentance. There are no guarantees in life of how long you have to live – regardless of your age.
And repentance involves bearing fruit, as the parable that follows this passage tells us. Jesus is willing to give us another cycle of seasons under his caring hands. Read the conversation between the owner of the fig tree and his gardener from Luke chapter thirteen:
So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, 'For three years now I've been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven't found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?'
"'Sir,' the man replied, 'leave it alone for one more year, and I'll dig around it and fertilize it. If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.'" (Verses 7-9)
Jesus wants us to succeed. With the care of Jesus, we can produce much fruit. What is that fruit? Part of it is being set free from what constrains us. The next section of Luke chapter thirteen records Jesus healing a woman with infirmity – she couldn’t straighten up. He healed her on the Sabbath, which caused uproar. After eighteen years of infirmity, Jesus thought it was high time to heal – even if that meant healing on the Sabbath. The Sabbath is a day for healing.
And part of the fruit of repentance involves knowing Jesus and seeking that narrow way. Read from another passage of Luke chapter thirteen:
Someone asked him, "Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?"
He said to them, "Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to. Once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, you will stand outside knocking and pleading, 'Sir, open the door for us.' "But he will answer, 'I don't know you or where you come from.' Then you will say, 'We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.' But he will reply, 'I don't know you or where you come from. Away from me, all you evildoers!' (Verses 23-27)
In the fragility of our lives, let’s seek Jesus in the little ones around us. Know your neighbors well – what cause them both joy and grief. See Jesus in each person you meet. Then Jesus will know you and the fruit of repentance will be plain to see.
Enough mumbling for now…
Peace Out
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