“Gathered under God’s Wings!”
Matthew 23:37-39 – August 13, 2023
Growing up in Chicago, I never had the opportunity to see chickens. I mean, live chickens, in a barnyard or roosting in a henhouse. Lately, I still have never gotten up close and personal with a chicken. I may have read the story of “The Little Red Hen” to my young children, years ago, but haven’t had too much more contact with chickens than that.
I am certain that this image of a hen and her chicks was much more familiar to the people the Rabbi Jesus spoke to. It was much more common to have chickens in your yard, or at least down the street, in the first century. Remember the reading? Here’s the verse we are focusing on, where Jesus refers to Jerusalem: “I have often wanted to gather your people, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings. But you wouldn’t let me.”
Our Lord Jesus made this serious and sad statement, when He was warning Jerusalem and the people of Israel. This lovely word-picture is so touching and tender! A mother hen fluffs herself up and gathers her chicks under her wings, keeping them safe and warm. Protecting them from harm, too. Jesus often used familiar images and common metaphors in His teaching and preaching. Except – one thing stood out about this particular image Jesus used.
“Jesus, let us note, employs a feminine image for himself and, to the degree that we confess Jesus reveals the essential character and disposition of the One who sent him, also for God.” [1] Those were not my words. Instead, they are the words of a well-respected Bible commentator, Dr. David Lose. (One of my favorite commentators, I may add!) It is not often that the Bible uses feminine or maternal images to describe God, but here is one of them!
I know I have been preaching this summer sermon series about Re-Imaging God for two months now. Many of the examples and Scripture references I’ve been using come from the Hebrew Scriptures. Yet, right here we have an important one, used by our Lord Jesus! At a critical time in His ministry, too. Jesus was in Jerusalem, during the Passion Week, face to face with the Jewish leaders and members of the Sanhedrin. And, what does He do here? Jesus compares Himself to a mother hen, wanting to gather her chicks protectively under her wings.
Just as I have done during this sermon series, David Lose makes the very good point that “if Jesus can describe himself and God as a mother hen, can we not also employ a variety of images to describe God? Scripture, after all, is replete with a variety of images for God, both male and female.” [2] I must say, that most of the images and metaphors used for God in the Bible are masculine and male. However, this week we highlight this important maternal image, given by our Lord Jesus at a critical time of His work here on earth. Shortly before the Passion and Crucifixion.
Which brings us to the following question: who was Jesus talking to? Yes, the Jewish leaders were listening to Him, but in this reading, Jesus addresses Jerusalem. That’s the historic capital of the land of Israel. We see Jesus saying that He has been reaching out to Jerusalem, and the Jewish people, and they have not listened. They have not heard the invitation of Jesus.
We turn to the next question: where do you and I come in? Sure, it breaks my heart to see Jesus offering His powerful, protective love to those He was sent to serve and to save. Yes, that is the people of Israel, but couldn’t it be us, too? Jesus has His arms open wide to us. Are we not hearing? Not listening to Jesus? Or even worse, just like the Jewish people, are we rejecting His love and caring, where He offers to be like a protective mother hen with her chicks?
As the Rev. Janet Hunt says, we are, indeed, “that brood of chicks who are scattered, distracted, unable, somehow, to comprehend the very real danger which is threatening. Jesus’ lament over Jerusalem is also over you and me and this world which all too often still refuses the gifts Jesus would so freely give.” [3]
This loving image, this metaphor for Jesus is so perfect for all of us, today. Can you see how Jesus as a mother hen would comfort the one who grieves? What about the weary ones who are fearful or anxious? What about protecting the safety for those in the care of Jesus? What about those gathered under His protective love, today?
Today’s Gospel reading does not give instruction, or commands. It does not prescribe something for the followers of Jesus to do or to say. Instead, this reading is descriptive. This description of the loving, caring mother hen – Jesus! – has His wings open wide to us all!
As Pastor Janet says, “we do not hear directly that we are to be or do anything as a result of Jesus’ words today. And yet, how might the world be changed if all of us” stopped to think of the consequences, both for those who wage war and those who suffer as a result. Or, for those who struggle to contain or direct our frustration, our anger and take it out on innocent ones. [4]
Yes, these words were written almost 2000 years ago, but they resonate so deeply within. I don’t know about other people’s understanding, but these words and this image of the Lord Jesus speaks directly to the heart. Going to some deep, elemental place within, inviting you and me to turn to the One who would draw us close, our Lord Jesus.
If we recognize our deep need for nurture, protection and caring from all that would harm us, we can also watch out for one another! Jesus urges us to nurture, protect, and care for one another, too. As our loving, caring Lord Jesus always does for us. Without fail.
Join me in bringing thanks to our Lord for the loving, everlasting care and nurture of Jesus. Praise God! Alleluia, amen.
(Suggestion: visit me at my other blogs: matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers. #PursuePEACE – and A Year of Being Kind . Thanks!
(I would like to thank the Rev. Janet Hunt for her commentary on today’s Gospel reading, https://dancingwiththeword.com/mining-the-metaphor-jesus-as-a-mother-hen/. I got several excellent ideas and phrases for this sermon from this excellent article.)
[1] https://www.workingpreacher.org/dear-working-preacher/re-imagining-god
[2] Ibid.
[3] https://dancingwiththeword.com/mining-the-metaphor-jesus-as-a-mother-hen/
[4] Ibid.
Pastor, Preacher, Pray-er 