How many times I yearned to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings

Gospel of the Day (Luke 13:31-35)

At that time some Pharisees came to him and said, "Go away, leave this area because Herod wants to kill you."

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.

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.'

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!

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.'"

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Reflections:

"How many times I yearned to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings"

Jerusalem was a city of peace but she has also been a city of torment since Jesus so greatly suffered there and died there in great pain. Within this city we must be his witnesses, not in words but in truth, by our lives, imitating him as much as we are able. Many there are who would willingly be God's witnesses in time of peace, provided all goes as they would wish. They would willingly become saints provided they find nothing bitter in the exercise and work of sanctity. They would like to taste, desire and know divine joys without having to pass through any kind of bitterness, pain or desolation. No sooner do strong temptations or darkness come upon them, no sooner does the feeling and awareness of God leave them, no sooner do they feel interiorly and exteriorly abandoned than they turn away and thus are not true witnesses.

All men seek peace. Everywhere, in their works and in all kinds of ways, they seek peace. Ah! if only we might free ourselves from this seeking and be the ones to look for peace in suffering. That is the only place where true peace is born, the peace that abides and lasts... Let us look for peace in suffering, joy in sadness, simplicity in multiplicity, consolation in bitterness, for it is then that we shall become in truth the witnesses of God.