Do I Mourn for Others?

March 15, 2022

Do I Mourn for Others?

By Sally Lombardo“

"At that very hour some Pharisees came and said to him, ‘Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you.’ And he said to them, ‘Go and tell that fox, “Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I finish my course.…"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it!" How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not!’” – Luke 13:31–32, 34-35

Jesus often gave the Jewish leaders hints about his mission and ministry and offered strange details about how he would finally die. They rarely believed him. In this section of Luke, Jesus tells several parables. He laments the barren fig tree (13:9, representing the nation of Israel), tells the story of the tiny mustard seed that grows into a tree (13:18–19, representing the faith of believers), and teaches believing Jews about entering through the “narrow door” (13:24, representing salvation in Christ alone). His followers were likely quite confused. Now Jesus offers a description of demons, healings, and an elusive ‘third day’ when His work will be complete. The disciples didn’t understand.

Jesus’s mourning over his flock is palpable through his language. He regrets that he cannot gather his children together as a mother hen. In our Christian walk, we mourn for people who do not know God. We lament for those we love who do not know the fellowship of believers, the wisdom in the Gospels, and the richness of God’s blessing. Lent is a time of reflecting on the ways we have forgotten God. It is also a time to remember and mourn the state of others’ souls. Jesus’s example reflects the heart of the Father, “who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:4).

This week, reflect on where you might be afraid to speak the truth, either because you fear being wrong or don’t want to be labeled. Jesus’s outburst at the leaders may startle you, but he was brave enough to tell the Pharisees, “Behold, your house is forsaken. And I tell you, you will not see me until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!’” (Luke 13:35). Jesus is compassionate enough to grieve openly before others when someone is lost. He cared enough to teach the truth, just as a godly mother gathers her children around God’s Word.

Reflection:

Who are you mourning over today? How well do you know the truth of God to freely share it with others? We would to hear your thoughts in the comments.

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