A reading from the Gospel according to Luke 13:31-35
31 Some Pharisees came to Jesus and said, “Go away, leave this area because Herod wants to kill you.”
32 He replied, “Go and tell that fox, ‘Behold, I cast out demons and I perform healings today and tomorrow, and on the third day I accomplish my purpose.
33 Yet I must continue on my way today, tomorrow, and the following day, for it is impossible that a prophet should die outside of Jerusalem.’
34 “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how many times I yearned to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, but you were unwilling!
35 Behold, your house will be abandoned. But I tell you, you will not see me until the time comes when you say, Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.”
Luke 13:31-35 Reflection / Homily / Sermon
Jesus has a mission to accomplish. He is travelling to Jerusalem to finish what He has started, that is, to bring about redemption of a world in sin and desperation. No one will stop Him, not even a death threat from the most powerful official of the land The threat of death is not without basis. The murder of John the Baptist offers a gruesome example of that threat. Yet Jesus is armed not with guns and other instruments of violence but with love and determination to go to Jerusalem. He cannot renege on what His Father has sent Him for, to suffer and die for the salvation of humanity.
No one will ever agree that proclaiming freedom or working for liberation is easy. A lot of prophets before Jesus and many more martyrs after Him have met violent deaths. Even today, Satan and his obedient minions are at work to stop the full realization of the Kingdom of God. What a better way to do this than the persecution of the workers in the vineyard of Christ.
Today, even if there are hundreds of modern Herods, there are still many who are traveling with Jesus to Jerusalem. This is a time of self-introspection. Are you a modern Herod who wants the status quo to remain or a determined follower of Jesus who is ready to take risks? Under the wings of Christ, let us continue working for the proclamation of the gospel and the liberation of the world.
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In this Gospel reading, we find a touching moment in Jesus’ journey toward Jerusalem. Some Pharisees, often seen as adversaries in the Gospels, warn Jesus that Herod wants to kill Him. Jesus responds with courage and determination, declaring, “Go tell that fox, ‘I will keep on driving out demons and healing people today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will reach my goal.'” He is resolute in His mission, despite the threats. He knows that Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets, is His destination, yet He still expresses profound love for its people, saying, “How often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing.”
This passage beautifully highlights both Jesus’ courage and His compassion. Even in the face of danger and rejection, Jesus’ love for His people is unshakeable. He compares Himself to a mother hen, tenderly desiring to protect and gather her chicks under her wings. Yet, the people of Jerusalem, representing the broader rejection of God’s message, are not willing.
In His response to the Pharisees’ warning, Jesus shows no fear. His words reflect the certainty of His mission and the confidence He has in God’s plan. He knows the dangers ahead but remains focused on His calling. This courage teaches us an important lesson: when we are walking in God’s purpose, we can face challenges with confidence, knowing that His will is sovereign. We may encounter “Herods” in our lives—people or circumstances that threaten us—but like Jesus, we are called to press on, trusting that God is in control.
The image of a mother hen gathering her chicks under her wings is a powerful metaphor for God’s protective and nurturing love. It reminds us that God’s desire is always to care for us, to shield us from harm, and to provide safety and comfort in His presence. However, just as the people of Jerusalem were not willing, we too can sometimes resist God’s invitation. We may turn away from His love, seeking our own way, or be distracted by the world. This image of a loving, patient God longing to embrace us is both comforting and convicting. How often have we missed the safety of His wings because we were not willing to come?
Jesus’ lament over Jerusalem is a call for us to examine our own hearts. Are we willing to let God gather us under His wings, or are we resistant to His care? The people of Jerusalem rejected the prophets and, ultimately, Jesus Himself, but we are invited to respond differently. God’s love is steadfast and available, but we must choose to accept it. Like Jesus, we are called to follow God’s plan, even when it leads us through difficult paths. We are also called to trust His heart for us—to believe in His goodness and His desire to protect and guide us.
This Gospel passage reminds us of Jesus’ unwavering courage and His deep love for us. He is the One who calls us, protects us, and longs to gather us to Himself. May we respond with open hearts, willing to rest in the shelter of His wings, and walk boldly in the path He has set before us.
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God’s Unfailing Love Despite Our Rejection
In this Gospel passage, we see Jesus’ deep compassion for Jerusalem, a city that had repeatedly rejected the prophets and turned away from God’s call. He knew the suffering that awaited Him, yet His heart was not filled with anger but with sorrowful love. He longed to gather the people as a mother hen gathers her chicks under her wings, offering them protection, peace, and love. But they refused. Still, He pressed on, knowing His mission was to save even those who would reject Him.
This moment reveals something timeless about God’s love: it never gives up. Even when humanity turns away, He continues to reach out. He doesn’t stop calling us back, even when our hearts grow cold. It’s a picture of divine love that endures rejection, a love that is not dependent on our response but flows from God’s very nature.
We can see this reflected in our modern world. Consider a parent who never stops believing in a wayward child. The child might ignore calls, make hurtful choices, or even blame the parent for their pain, yet the parent continues to pray, to hope, and to love. That unwavering patience mirrors God’s heart toward us. Even when we distance ourselves, His love remains, waiting for us to return.
Or think about someone working tirelessly for the good of others, perhaps a teacher who continues to care for students who mock or disrespect her, or a pastor who keeps serving despite criticism and misunderstanding. Their perseverance is a glimpse of Jesus’ own commitment to His mission, choosing compassion over resentment, purpose over pride. Love, in its truest form, is not about being accepted or admired; it’s about giving oneself even when the world pushes back.
Many people today live like Jerusalem in this passage — busy, distracted, and unaware of God’s presence calling them home. Some pursue success so passionately that they neglect their spiritual life. Others drown in resentment, unable to forgive, closing their hearts to grace. Still, God doesn’t give up. He keeps sending “messengers” such as friends who encourage us, sermons that stir our hearts, quiet moments when our conscience speaks. Every act of kindness, every opportunity for reconciliation, every second chance is God reaching out, saying, “I still want you close.”
Yet, as in the story, we often resist. We say we’re too busy, too tired, or too hurt to respond. But each day we delay is another day we miss the peace that only comes from being near God. The tragedy of Jerusalem was not God’s anger; it was their refusal to accept His love.
But this passage doesn’t end in despair; it ends in hope. Even though the people rejected Him, Jesus did not stop loving them. He continued His journey toward the cross, where His sacrifice would open the way for their redemption. That’s the beauty of divine love; it transforms rejection into redemption, pain into purpose.
In our modern context, this means that no matter how far we’ve drifted, God still calls us home. Maybe we’ve been too focused on work, too caught up in pride, or too wounded by past mistakes. But His love remains steady, inviting us to start again. He doesn’t love us because we’re perfect. He loves us so that we can become whole.
So, if you’ve been running from God, stop for a moment. Listen to the gentle whisper in your heart reminding you that you are loved. If you’ve been carrying guilt, let His mercy lift it. If you’ve been weary, rest under His wings where there is always room for one more lost soul seeking peace.
The story of Jesus’ lament over Jerusalem is not just about the past. It’s about us today. It’s about every person who has ever turned away and yet found God waiting with open arms. His love never grows tired, and His invitation never expires.
Let us not harden our hearts as Jerusalem did. Instead, let us open them wide and let His love enter. Because even when we wander, even when we reject Him, God still calls us by name and still longs to gather us close. That is the miracle of a love that will never stop reaching for us.