At that very hour some Pharisees came and said to him, “Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you.” He 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. Yet 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.’ 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! See, 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.’” (Luke 13:31-35)

“The Episcopal Church, one of the largest mainline Protestant denominations in the U.S., conducted the survey of American adults with market research company Ipsos in part to identify those gaps [how we perceive ourselves versus how other people perceive us], according to Curry. The denomination also wanted to open a conversation and dialogue, the presiding bishop said. Christians need to learn to listen, he added. “This was an attempt on our church’s part to actually listen to what others were saying about Jesus, about us. We dared to ask, ‘How are we perceived?’” “There is a disconnect between the reality of Jesus and the perceived reality of Christians,” Presiding Bishop Curry said.

We need to love one another as Christ loved us. To do this, we need to gather together and listen to the Word of God, repent of our sins, be forgiven, and go forth loving God with our entire self and loving our neighbors. God gathers us together as a mother hen gathers her chicks. Jesus asks us to turn from living in fear of one another and return to the loving arms of God. Thomas à Kempis said "If, however, you seek Jesus in all things, you will surely find Him" (The Imitation of Christ, Book II, ch. 7). In the parable of the lost sheep, the shepherd leaves 99 sheep unattended to look for the one lost sheep. The shepherd gathers the lost sheep over his shoulders and rejoices when the lost sheep is found. Jesus says that there will be great joy in heaven when just one lost person returns (Luke 15:1-7). The parable of the prodigal son is another great example of returning to God. The son asks for his inheritance and takes it to a distant country. The son squanders the money and then comes on very hard times. When he returns to his father he says, “I’ve been bad and I’m not worthy.” The father is so happy that he is back that he gives him a robe and a ring and slaughters the fatted calf for the celebration (Luke 15:11-32). Each year in Lent we are called back under the mother hen’s wing. Please join us on Saturday March 12th for a Lenten Quiet Day with Bishop Wolf.

In Christ’s love,
Fr. Duncan

>>>CLICK HERE FOR FULL EMAIL VERSION