Thursday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time
October 31, 2024

Today’s Readings:

https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/103124.cfm

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Jerusalem, Jerusalem,
you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you,
how many times I yearned to gather your children together
as a hen gathers her brood under her wings,
but you were unwilling!
Behold, your house will be abandoned.
But I tell you, you will not see me until the time comes when you say,
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.”
Luke 13:34-35

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Scripture often uses the image of wings to convey the sense of divine protection as in Psalm 91:4:

You will cover me with your pinions
and hide me in the shadow of your wings.

In today’s reading, Jesus expresses his desire to love and protect us in this way. Yet some, by their life choices, remain unwilling.

Today, in God’s Lavish Mercy:
We gratefully nestle in God’s grace and protection asking that our lives be transformed in that Holy Shadow.

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Poem: Peace – Gerard Manley Hopkins

When will you ever, Peace, wild wooddove, shy wings shut,
Your round me roaming end, and under be my boughs?
When, when, Peace, will you, Peace? I'll not play hypocrite
To own my heart: I yield you do come sometimes; but
That piecemeal peace is poor peace. What pure peace allows
Alarms of wars, the daunting wars, the death of it?

O surely, reaving Peace, my Lord should leave in lieu
Some good! And so he does leave Patience exquisite,
That plumes to Peace thereafter. And when Peace here does house
He comes with work to do, he does not come to coo,
He comes to brood and sit.

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Music: Shadow of Your Wings – Amy Michelle