I. Introduction

I hope that during these times of uncertainty, personal needs, health issues and many societal problems, that during this period of Lent you are able to go into your wilderness spaces to find the quiet time you need with God and feel that God is still with us. Let us journey together with Christ and see that we are not alone in our struggles, that He walked ahead of us, carrying His cross, knowing that God was with Him and also with us in this world.

II. The plot to kill the Son of God: Herod Antipas and Pontius Pilate

Jesus was traveling to various villages, teaching and healing many, while making His way towards His final destination, Jerusalem. He was extremely focused on what He was doing, knowing that He was coming to the end of His mission on earth, when the Pharisees approached Him with an important message that Herod wanted to kill Him. Jesus was not phased by this kind of warning, because He was busy with God's work. "Go tell that fox, I will drive out demons and heal people today and tomorrow," He says. I found various interpretations of the metaphor "fox" in this passage. Some suggest it refers to someone who is crafty, sly or cunning, and one other theologian uses terms like weakling, small fry, clown, nobody, weasel, jerk and so forth. The exact meaning of Jesus' metaphor is not certain; however, it could have referred to any combination of these descriptions for Herod. Herod Antipas was King of Galilee and Perea during that time, and Jesus was most active in his region. He was initially intrigued by Jesus' power to perform miracles. During Jesus' trial, He was brought before Pilate, who sent Him back to Herod, but Herod sent Him back to Pilate's court. Pontius Pilate, who was the fifth Governor of the Roman Province of Judaea, would ultimately order the crucifixion of Jesus. So, we see Jesus during His brief ministry being followed by crowds who wanted to hear His message of love and compassion, and be healed by Him, and then we see the religious leaders of the time not really happy with this guy walking around being hailed by many as the Messiah. And then we see these powerful characters Herod and Pilate, who, according to Luke 23:12 became friends before Jesus' trial and crucifixion, and together with the chief priests and the teachers of the law, they plotted to kill Jesus, to get rid of Him, the troublemaker! He had too much power for their liking.

III. Jerusalem, Jerusalem!

Was Jesus afraid, sad, frustrated, or disappointed when He saw what was happening to Him? Probably not, because He knew in His Spirit that it would happen, and that God was aware of things in the larger divine plan, and that God was with Him. But maybe He was feeling all those feelings, hence the outcry, Jerusalem, Jerusalem! For a prophet and someone like Him, outspoken and coming with the power He had, to enter Jerusalem, would have been a dangerous situation. In his long speech to the Sanhedrin, Stephen, one of the apostles of Christ who received intense resistance from those in the Synagogue, said this in the Book of Acts, chapter 7 v 52, "Was there ever a prophet your fathers did not persecute? They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered Him..." After he said this, they stoned him to death. Jerusalem was indeed a dangerous place for any prophet. Jesus knew about the treatment of those prophets entering Jerusalem, and so He must have felt all these feelings, and cried over Jerusalem, knowing that He would be next. And still, He told them how He longed to gather them together like a hen gathers her chicks under her wings. He still cared for them, and He wanted to be like a mother hen to them, loving them and showing them the path to salvation. They did not want it.

IV. Conclusion

Jerusalem will remain close to the heart of God, and I can only imagine the weeping God over the conflicts, death and destruction around this city and Holy Land today. But God's plans extend beyond the walls of Jerusalem, and I can only imagine the weeping God over the many communities, towns, cities and nations today where the love for God and fellow human beings is at a deficit! And yet, God's love for this world is like a hen who wants to gather her chicks and love and protect them. Therefore, we must remember that we are not alone in our own struggles. No, God is with us, weeping with us and wants to gather and protect us and take care of us. May God help us to see the tears of Christ, of God, and may we during this period of Lent to grow closer to God into a community of love and peace and light here in our beloved Town of Barre and beyond. May God have mercy on us and bring peace in this world. Amen!