Undeterred and headstrong?

     Okay, I know the picture of Edward (Robert Pattinson) is a little cheesy, but have you seen a much more determined face?  This is the face of a man who wants something, who knows what he needs to do to get it, and who plans on carrying it out so that in the end he will win.
     In Sunday's gospel lesson from Luke 13, we get the description of a a similarly determined, undeterred, and headstrong Jesus.  It seems that nothing can stop him now that he is on his final mission, even if he must die in order to accomplish it.  At this point in Luke's gospel, we are right in the middle of Jesus' journey to Jerusalem.  He has already foretold his death, he has discussed his journey and his mission with the great prophets of old Moses and Elijah.  He has done his pre-game warm up and is now in the zone.  Nothing can stop him now.  Jesus knows the ultimate mission: to reconcile God with God's beloved creation.  It is what he was sent to do, it is only he who can do it.
     And when he is confronted by yet another temptation, to flee from danger, Jesus doesn't react with annoyance, frustration, or distraction but instead reacts with sorrow.

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!

How badly Jesus wants to reconcile all of this hurting and broken world to its intended state.  How desperately Jesus yearns for all people to know love, forgiveness, and intimate relationship with their God.  How fervently Jesus works to make sure that this will happen.
    And yet how badly we want Jesus to not go to Jerusalem and suffer everything that entails.  We want reconciliation to come easily and smoothly.  We want love, forgiveness, and intimate relationship with God to come at the easy price of going to church on Sunday and attending Lenten services.  Unknowingly, we, too, work undeterred and headstrong against everything that Jesus does for us.
     I am left pondering the question: how often has Jesus desired to gather me up as a hen gathers her brood?  How often have I worked tirelessly against what Jesus wants, rejecting his great love for me?  What about you?  Have you worked undeterred and headstrong to reject Jesus' loving arms?  Have you been undeterred and headstrong in your will to do it yourself?  Go it alone?
     Mostly, however, I am left pondering what life would be like if instead of rejecting and going against God, I surrendered and moved undeterred and headstrong into the loving embrace of Jesus, who desires to gather me up as a hen gathers her brood?