By the Rev. Micah Kray
Revised Common Lectionary reflection for the Second Sunday in Lent, Year C
March 16, 2025
Key Verse: “How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!” -Luke 13:34b
The Second Sunday in Lent invites us to reflect on God’s unwavering commitment to care for us, even when we resist or fail to trust that care. The readings illustrate the tension between divine protection and human reluctance to receive it, revealing stewardship as a call to trust, relationship, and faithful living in response to God’s generosity.
In Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18, Abram struggles with uncertainty about God’s promise. He has left everything behind, yet he still lacks an heir. God reassures Abram, showing him the vastness of the stars and enacting a covenant that binds God’s own self to the promise. Abram’s story reminds us that stewardship begins with trusting in God’s abundance, even when we cannot yet see the fulfillment of that promise. Trusting in God’s provision frees us from clinging to scarcity and invites us into deeper participation in God’s mission.
Psalm 27 echoes this theme of trust, declaring, “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?” The psalmist acknowledges real threats yet chooses confidence in God’s sustaining presence. This perspective is central to stewardship — living not in fear of loss, but in gratitude for God’s protection and provision.
In Philippians 3:17–4:1, Paul contrasts those who “set their minds on earthly things” with those whose “citizenship is in heaven.” This passage reframes stewardship as a matter of identity: do we live as though our security is in temporary, self-made structures, or do we trust in the transformative generosity of Christ? Stewardship is about where we place our hope—in possessions or in God’s ongoing work of renewal.
Finally, Luke 13:31-35 offers one of the most striking images of God’s protective love. Jesus laments over Jerusalem, longing to gather the people as a hen gathers her chicks, yet they resist. This maternal image of stewardship reminds us that God’s protection is not coercive; it is an invitation to relationship. Stewardship, then, is not just about managing resources—it is about receiving and extending God’s care to others, embodying divine generosity in a world prone to fear and division.
For our preaching, if we only looked at Luke, it’s easy to pull back from this idea of protection — perhaps fearful of over promising. And yet, as we look at the whole of our texts this week, this isn’t our promise to the people of our congregations. This is God’s continual promise to all of God’s people. God desires that we have shelter (protection) and a home (identity). And in that promise, there is a hope that we will steward these gifts with all the people of God. This means extending the same care and refuge we receive to others—offering hospitality, advocating for the vulnerable, and creating communities where all can flourish under the shelter of God’s love. In trusting this promise, we are freed to live generously, knowing that our true home is always in God.
In Worship
Emphasize the theme of God’s protection and generous care through prayers, visuals, and music. Consider incorporating Psalm 27:5 as a spoken refrain throughout the service: “For in the day of trouble, God will keep me safe.” This could even be the refrain for the “Prayers of the People” as you lift up those who need God’s provision and shelter. For example:
For those who are experiencing homelessness, those suffering from addiction, those who are unemployed or underemployed. For in the day of trouble, God will keep us safe.
For those around the world facing war, violence, and hate. For those seeking asylum, refuge, or a new start. For in the day of trouble, God will keep us safe.
With youth
Invite youth to reflect on things they fear—whether personal struggles or global concerns. Have them write these fears on slips of paper and place them under a large image of Jesus as a hen gathering her chicks or of Jesus on the cross (be sure to explain that connection of Christ gathering us in at the cross). Discuss how faith invites us to place our trust in God’s care, even when we don’t have immediate answers. Encourage them to think about ways they can be agents of God’s generosity and protection for others, whether through advocacy, service, or acts of kindness.
With children
Show the children a picture of a mother hen with her chicks. Ask, “Why do the chicks stay close to their mother?” Explain how Jesus wants to protect and care for us in the same way. Give each child a small cutout of a chick and have them place it under a large paper cutout of a hen’s wings as a way of showing that we trust in Jesus’ love. End with a simple prayer thanking God for always caring for us, even when we are afraid.
Previous reflections for Lent 2C:
2019 – Never Give Up
2016 – A Fast of First Fruits
2013 – A Call to Identity and Action
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