Today’s gospel is a loving and passionate account of Jesus’s desire to protect us and keep us close to him. Jesus says, “I yearn to gather the children together, as a hen gathers her brood under her wings.”

He was beyond disappointed with the people of Jerusalem because they were unwilling to accept his way. Yet the world today may not be much different. There are those who turn away from the basic beliefs of faith and moral teachings. Too many of us convince ourselves that the world has better or easier ways of living. We stray from the moral values Jesus taught. We see things in our society, such as living together before marriage becoming more of the norm. The attitude is that it must be okay if everyone is doing it. Are we saying we know better than what God wants for us? Do we realize we turn away from his love?

Our first reading directs us to “put on the armor of God because the devil (evil) is in our world. It is a real presence and a dark force that creeps ever so deviously into our personal lives. We slowly begin to accept what we know is wrong. The only way to overcome and resist evil is to understand the way of our Lord and be armed with the strength we can only receive through him. It is our duty to pray, receive the sacraments, and sustain our desire to be close to him. We need to be the “ambassadors” who have the courage to “open our mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel.”

We see this strength through the work of Saint Peter Julian Eymard, who knew that bringing the Eucharist to people brings them closer to God and true life in Christ.

Prayer:

Oh Lord, gather us under your wing, the wing of your protection. Arm us with your love, the love that sustains us. Give us the courage and strength to be one of the willing! Amen.