Gathered Under Her Wings

‘Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which on the outside look beautiful, but inside they are full of the bones of the dead and of all kinds of filth. So you also on the outside look righteous to others, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness. ‘Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you build the tombs of the prophets and decorate the graves of the righteous, and you say, “If we had lived in the days of our ancestors, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.” Thus you testify against yourselves that you are descendants of those who murdered the prophets. Fill up, then, the measure of your ancestors. You snakes, you brood of vipers! How can you escape being sentenced to hell? Therefore I send you prophets, sages, and scribes, some of whom you will kill and crucify, and some you will flog in your synagogues and pursue from town to town, so that upon you may come all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Barachiah, whom you murdered between the sanctuary and the altar. Truly I tell you, all this will come upon this generation. ‘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! See, your house is left to you, desolate. For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, “Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.” ’ Matthew 23:27-39

One of the hardest parts of being a parent is watching your children struggle out in the world. Social media is filled with hacks and support for parents with infants and young children. Yet little is said about parents of adult children. We worry, we pray, we ache and pray some more. I sometimes think to myself, if only I could feed them, hold them and tuck them into bed, things would be okay. Our daughters are grown, amazingly brilliant and beautiful people. Yet, when they face the world's horrors, I still "desire to gather my children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings." How wonderful to realize that that is how Jesus thought about the worst troublemakers in his time. And how, even now, he desires to shelter us like the most loving and dedicated parent.

Wondrous Creator, you love us all

in every season of our life and labor

you always move to shelter us all

and tenderly comfort us in our struggles.

We are a rebellious and selfish bunch

we don't want to be gathered and sheltered

we defuse to see you love for us

and think we are alone in this world.

Oh Lord, help us to see your ache for us

to recognize you care and tenderness

let us receive that love with open arms

and share that love with our aching world. Amen.