Lent day 8: Giving up busy
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.’”
I saw baby chicks the other day. They just run around randomly all over the place. No connection to each other, to the hen, to the farmer or anyone else.
Random scurrying, busy, so, so busy, moving and moving from one non-event to another.
Too busy to hear the prophetic voice too busy, too active in the frenetic movement to even find their way to the hen with the open arms.
And the hen weeps. The chicks go everywhere except the open arms of the mother hen.
The scurrying chicks are busy with their business. We can imagine the people of Jerusalem so focused on their busy-ness and their movement and way too occupiedto look to the mother hen. Unable to look up to a place of peace and love and support.
Jesus weeps. Jesus weeps for those he can't reach, for those who won't stop their scurrying and rest.
Jesus laments for those who won't stop their scurrying and spent a few minutes in prayer, closer to God.
Jesus laments for those who can't stop and listen, who scurry by the hen with her outstretched arms.
We are so much like the people of Jerusalem -- it is our own humanity.
In order to feel meaningful, we fill our lives with activity and busy-ness that keep us scurrying and moving.
We forget presence. We forget that just finding time to be in the arms of God gives us meaning. Gives us hope.
And Jesus weeps. He longs for us. He is willing to give it all up for us. He is willing to be all we need and we keep scurrying around.
Forgive us for our busy-ness and our scurrying. Help us to abide in you.
Random scurrying, busy, so, so busy, moving and moving from one non-event to another.
Too busy to hear the prophetic voice too busy, too active in the frenetic movement to even find their way to the hen with the open arms.
And the hen weeps. The chicks go everywhere except the open arms of the mother hen.
Jesus weeps. Jesus weeps for those he can't reach, for those who won't stop their scurrying and rest.
Jesus laments for those who won't stop their scurrying and spent a few minutes in prayer, closer to God.
Jesus laments for those who can't stop and listen, who scurry by the hen with her outstretched arms.
We are so much like the people of Jerusalem -- it is our own humanity.
In order to feel meaningful, we fill our lives with activity and busy-ness that keep us scurrying and moving.
We forget presence. We forget that just finding time to be in the arms of God gives us meaning. Gives us hope.
And Jesus weeps. He longs for us. He is willing to give it all up for us. He is willing to be all we need and we keep scurrying around.
Forgive us for our busy-ness and our scurrying. Help us to abide in you.
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