How often have I long to gather my children into one communion with me?

Eph. 6:10-20, Lk. 13:31-35. Today's first reading presents moral life as a battleground, where we need the whole armour of God to enter the narrow door. Are there forces that stand in the way of salvation? We may overlook them or even try to silence them with a guilty conscience. Shun not the struggle; face it, it is the gift of God. Jesus also had to struggle with the knowledge of His impending death, by which He would return to His Father in Heaven. His ministry was to speak His truth to power, no matter what the cost. In today's Gospel, Jesus emphasises that the prophets are destine to die in Jerusalem. The sight of the Holy City does not stir Him to hatred or bitterness. What He says about Jerusalem is a mixture of love and indomitable hope: “How often have I wanted to gather your children together as a hen gathers her young under her wings.”

Jesus was clearly a keen observer of nature and would have often seen hens clucking about in the village, gathering their brood and watching over them. He was bent on gathering people. He wanted to form them into a united community, including people who would not normally relate in friendship, Jew, Samaritan and Gentile, rich and poor, law abiding and sinner, male and female. He laments the fact that so many were not willing to be gathered by Him. He longed to gather them but He was powerless before the mystery of human freedom. Jesus invites us to come to Him but would not coerce us to do so. To resist forces that can restrain us from coming to Him, we need the strength of grace, the armour of God.

May the Lord come to our aid with His mighty arm to lead us and fill our hearts with the light of truth! Amen!! Stay safe and have a great day!!!