Lent Devotional: As a hen gathers her chicks

37 “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, and you were not willing. 38 Look, your house is left to you desolate. 39 For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’”

This Scripture comes at the end of the 23rd chapter of Matthew (you can also find it in Luke).  It follows a long section of "Woe to you..." warnings that Jesus proclaimed to the Pharisees.  He was speaking to their lack of action, to their continuous restrictions that limited the very God that they were promoting.  This is one of those places where I think we can see the human side of Jesus, the man who just wanted them to practice what they preached, rather than focusing on the restriction of everyone else.  At the end of the seven woes, we find this Scripture that puts the heart of Christ on display.  He wants to gather the people in, to protect and comfort them, yet they will not allow him to do so.

Last August while I was in Kenya I finally realized exactly what this Scripture meant.  On the grounds of our center we have what they call "local chickens."  These are the chickens that run around the compound and often end up serving as dinner.  While we were there the number of chickens grew, and we were happy to see the chicks running around.  If you look closely at this picture you will see two chicks, being hidden and protected by the wings of their mother.  I had no idea the chicks where there until mama hen lifted up to reveal these tiny little ones.  The second picture shows you just how well mom was doing at protecting her children.  

Today marks the beginning of Holy Week, a week that brings us from joy to sorrow, from the palm-waving parade to the cries from the cross.  In the midst of all of it I imagine Jesus saying to us this day, "how often I have longed to gather you as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing."   

Wherever you find yourself this day, I pray that you know that you are loved as gently as this hen loves her chicks.  As we enter into this most sacred week of our faith lives, may we come as children, longing to be sheltered and protected, open to the mystery of the stories of the week.  

Prayer:  O God you have chosen to protect me as a mother hen protects her tiny ones.  Help me to be open to your sheltering presence this week.  Open to me a new and deeper understanding of sacrifice, love, loss, and joy in the midst of the unfolding redemption story. Amen.