Art for Luke 13:31-35 — Jesus Is Disillusioned
The Fox and the Hens
Next Sunday’s gospel features a moving image that has never quite caught the imagination of artists. He starts his discourse sniping at Herod, calling him a fox. But he quickly moves on. Jesus compares his feelings for Jerusalem to a hen protecting her brood — but the brood is unwilling.
The headline art simply depicts Jesus contemplating the city which housed God’s earthly temple.
Today, in modern Jerusalem, in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, there is a mosaic with the words of scripture surrounding the image. “But you are unwilling” drips in red at the feet of little chicks.
Artists seem to be much more comfortable with other biblical metaphors. There are numerous images of rushing streams, stars, bread, the lion and the lamb—even the rooster crowing, but this poignant image of a mother hen never grabs us.
Perhaps this is because the metaphor was first delivered by a disillusioned Jesus. Do we feel guilty?
Perhaps it is because it is a feminine image in a religion long-dominated by men
It is less likely to be taken on by today’s artists. There was a day when most homes had a few chickens pecking the ground in the back yard — a living refrigerator. But the sight is uncommon today.
Nevertheless, one young contemporary sculptor rose to the challenge, entering a biblical art contest.
Jesus’ imagery grabs at our hearts and our consciences. We are his little chicks — like it or not.