Luke 13:31-35 NRSVue

³¹At that very hour some Pharisees came and said to him, “Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you.” ³²He 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. ³³Yet 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.’ ³⁴Jerusalem, 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! ³⁵See, 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.’ ”

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Some thoughts on this scripture

Reflection
The heart of Jesus finds its voice here: a voice of courage, facing down Herod the king as a fox, symbol of destructive cunning; and a voice of grief: he weeps over Jerusalem, mother city of his people. It is clear from these words that Jesus had preached in Jerusalem, but in vain: /You were not willing./ Jesus longs for us, but will not force us.

Reflection
Jesus wants to gather the people in Jerusalem into his love and protection - ‘under his wing'. It is they who refuse, not God who changes his mind when the city is destroyed! It looks as if God is a failure when God's children turn away, like parents feel when their children in some way get lost in their way through the world. But God never gives up on us - God will return and be praised.

Reflection
Jesus' heart goes out to the people of his beloved city, Jerusalem. His heart goes out today in every city, for he lives among us everywhere. We pray that our hearts become like his and we look on the needs of people and hear the cries of people like he does.