The daily Luther

6^th February

(…) how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!

Matthew 23 (xxxvii)

Just observe how an ordinary hen behaves: hardly any other animal provides such tender loving care for their offspring. The mother hen changesher natural voice into a wailing moan. She scratches around, seeking and summoning her chicks. If she finds a morsel to eat, she doesn’t eat it herself but saves it for them. She puts all her might into her screeching when attacked by a vulture. She willingly spreads her wings to let her chickens scratch about under her and also climb all over her even if it hurts. Mother Hen provides an excellent image of loving tender care. In the same way, Christ put on a lamenting voice for us when He complained on our behalf and preached penance, making people aware of their sins and wretched state. He searched the scriptures diligently with all His heart, summoning us to join Him. He provides food for us and spreads his wings over us covering us with His justice, His merits and His grace (...).

 

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