under God's wing

Good morning all,
This morning's reading is an interesting one because we usually think of the Pharisees as enemies of Jesus and here they are warning him to run because Herod is looking for him. When I was getting ready to preach on this passage a few months ago I looked through Luke and noticed that the Pharisees, while they often criticize and question Jesus, are not the leaders mentioned once we get to Jerusalem and start talking about actually killing him. Maybe for them opposition to Jesus didn't get that radical. Jesus response to the warning is also telling. It doesn't matter who is after him because his work isn't done yet (and in fact, his work includes dying.)

Jesus laments over Jerusalem because this special city of God so often turns away from God's calling and rejects the voices God sends to bring her home. How often is it the same story in the church? We have a special sense of God's calling, but sometimes for that reason we are less willing to listen to challenging voices. Maybe those challenging, questioning voices are God trying to gather us under her wings. I pray that we would keep an open ear for that calling, that we would finally come home and nestle under God's comforting wing.

God bless,
Sam

Luke 13:31-35
31At that very hour some Pharisees came and said to him, “Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you.” 32He said to them, “Go and tell that fox for me, ‘Listen, I am casting out demons and performing cures today and tomorrow, and on the third day I finish my work. 33Yet today, tomorrow, and the next day I must be on my way, because it is impossible for a prophet to be killed outside of Jerusalem.’ 34Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! 35See, your house is left to you. And I tell you, you will not see me until the time comes when you say, ‘Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.’”