Thursday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time
The imagery in today’s readings varies from the more traditionally masculine to the more feminine. Both, however, have the ability to open our eyes in new ways and encourage us on our journey of discipleship. In the letter to the Ephesians (6: 10-20) we read of putting on the armor of God. The author uses the language of dress and equipment of Roman soldiers to encourage the Ephesians to prepare themselves for the spiritual battles against evil. The “armor” consists of truth, righteousness, the gospel of peace, faith, salvation, and the word of God. The letter encourages them (and us) to draw strength from God and to “pray at every opportunity in the Spirit.”
Another image of strength is presented in today’s psalm (144) in which the Lord is referred to as “my rock,” “my fortress, my stronghold, my deliverer, my shield, in whom I trust…”
In the gospel passage from Luke (13: 31-35), we hear of Jesus using feminine imagery to describe his longing for Jerusalem who has rejected him: “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!” This beautiful imagery of a hen gathering her chicks under her wings is such a tender, protective image of Jesus’ love and longing for each of us.
Similar images appear in the book of Psalms (17: 8, 91:4): “Hide me in the shadow of your wings,” “God…will shelter you with pinions, spread wings that you may take refuge.” This brings to mind the song refrain, “Shelter me, O God; hide me in the shadow of your wings. You alone are my hope.” (Shelter Me, O God, Bob Hurd)
We can put on God’s strength through prayer, faith and the word of God, and we can choose to stay close to Jesus under his maternal, loving, protective “wings.” We can also choose not to. This, however, does not change God’s love for us, Jesus’ “yearning” for us. Even thoughJerusalem rejected the prophets sent to her, including Jesus, He yearned for the people. “How many times…” Jesus says.
There are plenty of “opportunities” and temptations to keep us away from Jesus, and that is why we are called to put on the armor of God to resist the lures of our own egos, pride, all the “glamour” of evil that we renounce when we renew our baptismal promises. Armed with the truth, righteousness, faith, the gospel of peace, the word of God, and prayer “at every opportunity,” we are strengthened to stay close to Jesus, under his wings, where we belong.
- Eileen Miller