ISB ~ Matthew 23 v37

as a hen:The Holy City persistently rejected God’s messengers. Jesus too stands rejected, though he desired to protect and gather its faithful (CCC 558).

• Jesus’ language evokes Is 31:5 and the Lord’s protection of Jerusalem. Other OT texts similarly portray God as a winged bird protecting Israel (Deut 32:10-12; Ps 91:4).

• Allegorically: the hen is the Church, who constantly calls out to her young lest they go astray. Just as a hen takes care of her own, so the Church regenerates the faithful in Baptism, feeds them with her preaching, and loves them with maternal affection (Auctor Imperfecti, Incomplete Commentary on Matthew).