text: Bible Moment: Experience Christ's loving embrace – Diocese of Jamaica & The Cayman Islands
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  and you were not willing." (Luke 13:34b)
  We must pause and reflect on the fact that Christ loved Jerusalem. We must acknowledge that Christ wanted the best for the City and for the people. We may ask, why did Christ care so much for Jerusalem, a city that did not treat God's messengers well? Jerusalem was the city that killed the prophets that were sent to it. Why should Jesus care for them? This may be likened to parents whose children do not always do what is expected and required of them. Yet the parents still love their children. Even though Jerusalem did not behave according to God's will, there was still love for them from Jesus.
  Jesus wanted the people of Jerusalem to know that his loving embrace was still there for them. Even though they continued to behave contrary and were not willing to be gathered by Jesus, His loving embrace was still available to them. Jesus lamented over the actions of Jerusalem and recalls what they did to the prophets of God, but Jesus' love was not lessened. Jesus was being a good parent in loving the children regardless of what they have done because He feels that there is still hope for them. Jesus wanted them to know that salvation was still available, and His loving embrace was waiting for them.
  Jesus wants us to know that there is still hope for us. He wants us to know that salvation is still possible for us. Jesus is telling us that there is still room for us to benefit from His loving embrace. Jesus' loving embrace can still be experienced, even though we have rejected Him. We have rejected His love. We have rejected His compassion. We have rejected His teaching. We have rejected His ways, yet He still loves us. Christ still wants to embrace us because of the love He has for us. I believe that we need to reflect on this fact; that despite what we have done, we are still loved by Jesus who wants us to experience His loving embrace.
  Let us reflect on the ways that we have rejected Christ and His ways and make a serious effort to return to Him. Let us also express our gratitude that despite our failings, Jesus still loves us and wants us to feel secure in His arms.
  Gracious and loving God, we thank you for your love so freely given to us. We thank you for sending your Son to die for us. We are grateful for the fact that He has overlooked our faults, and He wants us to experience His loving embrace. Help us Lord to accept Jesus into our lives so that we can experience His goodness and love. Keep us faithful to remaining obedient to His command to love one another and help us to share this love. Help us to do His will so we can enjoy rest in His loving embrace. We ask these things in the name of the one who loves us and died for us, Jesus Christ your Son. Amen.