“At that very hour some Pharisees came and said to him, "Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you." He said to them, "Go and tell that fox for me, 'Listen, I am casting out demons and performing cures today and tomorrow, and on the third day I finish my work. Yet today, tomorrow, and the next day I must be on my way, because it is impossible for a prophet to be killed outside of Jerusalem.' 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! See, your house is left to you. And I tell you, you will not see me until the time comes when you say, 'Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.'"
I am scared of death.
Despite how much I have preached about the Eternal Life, death remains a mystery. When will it happen? How will it happen? Will I see it coming? Can I avoid it? Will it hurt? Will it be fast? I believe in eternal life, but leaving behind this familiar place for the unknown and surrendering to what will be — leaving behind the people we love — is terrifying. Even for those with faith, the idea of death stirs discomfort deep in the soul.
However, the Gospel for Today invites us to see Jesus — to see him with the eyes of faith and the heart of those on the margins. We “see” Jesus, the Pharisees, the “pueblo” listening, bystanders, and everyone that has an “ear to listen.” The Pharisees warn him of Herod’s intent to kill him. But Jesus is not shaken. He remains focused on his mission. We see him teach, heal, and cast out demons “today and tomorrow.” He knows what he came to do. There is no hesitation, no fear — just a deep commitment to liberation and love. We see Jesus not scared because he knows what is at stake: the salvation of all people. And he reminds us that just “three days” will change the story of humanity forever.
With Motherly Love
We see Jesus speaking to Jerusalem with the tenderness of a mother. “Jerusalem, Jerusalem,” he laments, “How often have I longed to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings.” This is at the heart of Mujerista theology — a God who nurtures, protects, and gathers the vulnerable and marginalized close, like a mother hen shielding her chicks. We see Jesus’ love not as abstract or distant; it is embodied and fierce, like the love of a mother who will face death herself to protect her children.
Jesus’ words echo the cries of every Latina mother today who has ever prayed for her child’s safety in the face of violence, poverty, and oppression. I find myself more and more now praying for my Latino-looking teenage boys, that they would not be harmed on the streets, that they would not be profiled as undocumented, or that their “big bodies” would not be criminalized. I pray for my Latina-looking daughter that she will be valued for her abilities, leadership, and caring heart. We see Jesus longing to gather and protect like our abuelas and madres who have faced rejection, injustice, and the threat of death — yet continue to fight for their families and communities. Jesus stands with them all. He knows rejection. He knows the fear of violence. And yet, his response is not vengeance but love. He longs to gather, to heal, to bring peace.
Fear separates people;
love gathers them together. We see Jesus pleading with Jerusalem: stop the killings, embrace peace, and turn from fear toward love. However, we see Jesus rejected; we see his promise: “You will not see me until the day comes when you say, ‘Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.’ We see hope. A day is coming when the rejected will be welcomed with praise.
During this season of Lent, we see Jesus walking toward suffering, the cross, and liberation, walking toward Jerusalem on behalf of the marginalized, the brokenhearted, and the despised. He walks for the women and men who have been cast aside, for the immigrant mother trying to protect her children, for the grandmother praying for her family's survival, for the young girl dreaming of a future free from fear, for the refugee, the asylum seeker, those from war-torn countries, and even for the powerful and the rich, there is hope for all of us.
Death does not scare Jesus…
because “perfect love drives out fear.” The love of a mother hen, the love of a Savior who lays down his life, the love of a God who gathers us under her wings — the kind of love that overcomes fear and death. And so, with hope in our hearts, may one day we all cry out together:
"Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord."
Questions for reflection during this second week of Lent.
How does the image of Jesus as a mother hen gathering her chicks challenge or deepen your understanding of God’s love and protection, especially in the context of fear and uncertainty?
In what ways does Jesus’ courage in the face of death reflect the strength and resilience of marginalized communities, particularly the struggles of Latina women and mothers?
Thank you!
Today is the Second Sunday in Lent and the fourth Sunday of the series “Seeing Jesus” in the Gospel through a mujerista lens. Lent is a time for reflection, pausing and examining our spiritual journey, engaging in practices that help us grow spiritually, and reflecting on Jesus’ passion for the world. May this Lent be a time for us to find meaningful ways to love the world as Jesus loved us.
In the Know about Mujerista Theology…
You have probably never heard about Mujerista Theology—I did not until very late in life. Since we are looking at the Gospel through the Mujerista Biblical Hermeneutics lens, I will share a passage from the mother of Mujerista Theology, Dr. Ada Maria Isasi Diaz, every Sunday for your further research.
“Solidarity will not become a reality unless we are totally committed to mutuality. As a matter of fact, I believe that the commitment to mutuality is what makes it possible for the oppressed and their “friends to maintain the revolutionary momentum of the struggle for liberation. Commitment to mutuality means “willingness to do something for or about whatever it is we are committed to (at least to protect it if there is a “sense of being bound to whoever or whatever is the object of (this) commitment.” Commitment gives another person or a worthy cause claim over oneself, thus establishing or strengthening mutuality between the self and the other. Commitment to mutuality results in “a relation of biding and being-bound, giving and being-claimed.” Mujerista Theology, pg 99.
Are you interested in learning more about Mujerista Theology? If so, please leave us a comment; we would love to speak with you.
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Pictures are from Yuri Arcurs| Dreamstime.com and Stef22| Dreamstime.com