This coming Sunday, the second Sunday of Lent, many Christian churches will hear a scripture from Luke 13, Jesus’ lament over Jerusalem.
In this scripture Jesus describes Herod as a fox. Jesus says, “Go and tell that fox for me…”
In contrast to Herod the fox, Jesus describes themselves as a mother hen, “How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!”
In Christianity’s one-sided portrayal of God as male, we have often turned God in to an insecure, vengeful warrior.
But Jesus describes themselves as a hen who wants to gather her brood under her wings.
God as a compassionate nurturer and protector instead of a punishing autocrat.
Let us not confuse the fox for the hen.
Let us hear the good news of abundant life and not the Fox news of fear and damnation.
