Second Sunday in Lent, Gospel, Luke 13:31-35 

Luke 13:31-35

We left Jeremiah speaking tough things to his people. And here we have the “Messenger of the Covenant” bringing a hard word to those same people. Amazing how the consistency of God’s heart shows itself in his Word. “Tough,” “hard.” Those are just my conclusions and there is more to the sayings we encounter. Because when God brings hard words to his own, they are often colored by his heart which desires great things for those same people. The best things. It’s one of the ways that the “personhood” of God is shown to us. God is not a force nor is he mere energy. God speaks, and therefore he thinks and feels and crafts the very messages he shares.

Read deeply and ponder this gospel passage for the week and allow yourself to hear the heart of a saving God. “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem …” What a love affair our God has with his people, Old Israel and New. He always longs to be with us to deliver his gifts to the full. We pose the obstacle. If we hear the words of God, even disciplinary words, only as being harsh, I contend we are not reading or hearing deeply enough.

Help us, good Lord. Amen!