In the shadow of His wings

From today's reading: 'Jerusalem, 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! Matthew 23:37

This was Jesus' cry to the people of Jerusalem shortly before his death. It acknowledges their fault, but affirms God's desire to love them regardless of that fault. Each of us has faults that we do not want to acknowledge. Too often it is a desire to believe that we are right and everyone else is wrong. The culture around us tells us it's okay to be a victim, even desirable because then we can use that as an excuse when things don't go our way. Jesus invites us to come in out of the coldness and aloneness that we sometimes build up around us.

Once we have been gathered under his wings, then we can reach out in love. How often do we see people around us who are in deep need - who are overcome by their problems, or who are being victimized. When we reach out to those in need, it is God's own heart that reaches out through us and invites them to come in under the shelter of his wings to be loved and protected.

That is the joy of being part of God's creation. We never have to be alone for God is always willing to reach out to us with a loving desire that we allow ourselves to be surrounded by his love and his peace.