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31 At that very hour some Pharisees came and said to him, "Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you." 32 He 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. 33 Yet 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.' 34 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! 35 See, 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.' " (Luke 13:31-35 NRSV)
Dear Friend, may the blerssings of the Lord be with you and keep you! May He guide your steps and may you learn to be led by Him.
What always gets me about the Bible is the number of so-called "religious" men, for they always seem to be the men, but there were a few women who also wanted or did kill others. The environment during the time of Jesus was very volatile. The Jews were living under a foreign enemy's rule, the Roman Army not known for their kindness or patience; tensions ran high with the potential of violence and death at any moment. And as the passage opens, the very one who wanted or would eventually want Jesus dead, told Him, "Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you." Boom! We can't let Herod kill you - we want to kill you. The man who loved the world and sent to the world because His Father loved the world, is told that He was in danger of being killed by a political ruler. The religious rulers wanted to kill him instead.
Jesus, not one to back down from a threat, answers in a most interesting way. Jesus with His response has ranked Herod as a fox. Of all the animals in the region, the fox is rated towards the bottom, so is this an insult to the king? Jesus didn't call him a lion, or a Siberian bear, or a snake, or any of the other regional animals, Herod is a fox. Jesus probably means that Herod is, like the fox, deceptive and untrustworthy; the fox was not an honorable animals. The fox was also weak and insignificant, when compared to the true power of a lion. And a fox was a nuisance but not a real threat; and Jesus knew His mission was in God's hands. AND, Jesus shows His power when he said, "Listen, I am casting out demons and performing cures today and tomorrow, and on the third day I finish my work." Boom again! Jesus knew His end was drawing near and the path to death would be clear; yet His love increased as He realized what was at stake and how His death would bring to the world what the world needed. It was also a challenge and comparison of powers; Herod could try to kill Him as he had killed others, but He, Jesus, had the power to restore, renew, and resurrect. Then, who cannot love what Jesus said about the mother hen? "How often I desired to to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!" For loving parents and most adults, nothing hurts more than to see their children, or children in general, suffer; to gather and protect them is a must.
During Lent, we are invited to walk with Jesus on His journey to the cross, a journey filled with rejection, sorrow, and unwavering love. In this passage, Jesus is warned about Herod’s threats, yet He remains steadfast. He knows His mission, and no earthly power will deter Him. His words reveal both His divine determination and His deep sorrow for Jerusalem—the city that has rejected God’s messengers time and again.
Despite this rejection, Jesus’ response is not anger but longing. He compares Himself to a mother hen yearning to gather her chicks under her wings. This imagery speaks to Christ’s tender, protective, and self-giving love. Even as He faces betrayal and death, His desire is to embrace and save.
Lent is a season to examine our hearts. How often have we resisted God’s call, just as Jerusalem did? How often have we ignored His desire to gather us close? Yet, even in our stubbornness, Jesus does not turn away. He continues His journey, offering His very life for our redemption.
PRAYER: Lord Jesus, You walked the path of suffering with love and determination, longing to gather us into Your embrace. Forgive us for the times we have resisted Your call. Help us to surrender our fears and pride so that we may rest in Your presence. During this Lenten season, draw us closer to You, that we may recognize and proclaim, "Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord." Amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! OUR CALL TO ACTION: Spend time today in quiet reflection. Ask yourself: In what areas of my life am I resisting Christ’s embrace? What fears keep me from trusting Him fully? Take a step toward Him—whether in prayer, repentance, or an act of love for another. Let this Lenten journey be one of drawing closer to the One who longs to gather you in His grace.
I love you and I thank God for you!
Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.
