Mother Hen

Scripture Suggestion from Alton Key

Luke 13:34

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!

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I can't see you, mama.
But I can hardly wait
Oh To touch and to feel you, mama
Oh, I just can't keep away
In the heat and the steam of the city
Ooh, it's got me running and I just can't brake
So say you'll help me, mama
'Cause it's getting so hard, ooh

"Mama" written by Tony Banks, Phil Collins, Mike Rutherford, recorded by Genesis off of the disc of the same name.

When Christians talk about the persons of the Triune God, we usually use the phrase "Father, Son, and Holy Spirit." It has been used for centuries and has staying power. The reason we speak of Trinity that way is that The Lord has presented himself to creation as these three different persons.

There is the Father who creates in the book of Genesis (not the band). God the Father can also be found in many other places in scripture. There is God the Son who came to Earth in the person of Jesus the Christ. His place is in the New Testament, especially in the Gospels. God the Spirit is more elusive, as a spirit should be. The Spirit is the wind that blew across the chaos at the beginning of "In the beginning."

But here's something that is a little more difficult to get used to, God without this masculine image. Yes, how about God the mother? Yes, feminine imagery for God is found in scripture, it's not some politically correct plot, it's really there.

God the Son wants to collect all of God's children in the same way a hen collects her chicks under her wings. The hen uses her wings for protection, it's where the chicks hide from predators, severe weather, and other dangers. This leaves the hen in a vulnerable position. If a chicken hawk comes down into the barnyard, the hen (too big to be taken up herself) could be horribly injured or even killed. Still, the chicks will be safe.

Jesus speaks of the chicks not being willing to take shelter from the storm. This leaves the chicks to their own devices and their own wisdom. Not a good place to be for a bird without either the instinct or capability to survive.

Phil Collins sings, "So say you'll help me, mama." As usual, the scripture has nothing to do with the scripture. Yet Phil is calling for help. He's calling for help because he cannot take care of himself.

Thanks be to God who protects us like a hen protects her chicks. Thanks be to God for mothers who protect their children like a hen protects her chicks.