Brooding Jesus
[Jesus said,] “Jerusalem, 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!” – Matthew 23:37 (NRSV)
What image of Jesus speaks to you? We may call him teacher, or shepherd, or friend. For some people the image of king resonates; this coming Sunday in the liturgical calendar is named Reign of Christ. Today, the image of a king is complicated, even if we do sometimes still sing “Crown Him with Many Crowns.
In Matthew 23, we find Jesus in Jerusalem at the Temple, speaking to his disciples and to a crowd of people. After sharing his teaching through parables, he rails against the religious leaders, saying, “Woe to you!” over and over again. They make themselves too important. They don’t take care of those in need. They put more emphasis on appearance than true righteousness.
We think of him as teacher, shepherd, friend, perhaps king. I am drawn to the image Jesus paints of himself as a hen gathering her brood. He speaks of Jerusalem as a city that kills the prophets, but still he feels the instinct to protect the people.
A hen broods over her eggs, giving her energy to the potential they hold, making their development her priority, even to the detriment of her own wellbeing.
Some of the same crowd that greet Jesus with enthusiastic Hosannas also call for his crucifixion.
He knows this, yet still he would cover them with his wings.
Prayer
Help us, Brooding One, to accept your love and gather beneath your wings. Amen.
About the AuthorMartha Spong is a UCC pastor, a clergy coach, and editor of The Words of Her Mouth: Psalms for the Struggle, from The Pilgrim Press.