Cathy Cox
Sunday, March 13, 2022
Lent 2C
Luke 13:31-35
There’s a kind of serious game people sometimes play,
“If you knew you had only a few days left to live – what would you do with your time?”
It’s an interesting thought-experiment – If you would do something then, why not do it now?
This story offers one answer – maybe not the one you’d naturally give. Jesus has his sights set on Jerusalem, even knowing that he will die there. A few verses before the ones we are reading today, in verse 22, we read, “Jesus went through the towns and villages, teaching as he went, always pressing on towards Jerusalem.”
He’s a man on a mission.
But at this point, some Pharisees warn him, “Get away from here if you want to live! Herod Antipas wants to kill you!”
Now you don’t need to think that these men are anything other than honestly concerned for Jesus’ life. They may not believe that he is a prophet – let alone the Messiah – but that doesn’t mean they want to see him murdered by Galilee’s unsavory political leader, either.
Herod had already killed John the baptizer – and since Jesus’ fame grew even greater than John’s, it makes sense that he’d set his sights on him, too.
Jesus anticipates this – and isn’t the slightest bit afraid.
“Go tell that fox that I will keep on casting out demons and healing people today and tomorrow; and the third day I will accomplish my purpose.”
If it sounds like he’s trashing Herod – he is.
If someone called you a “fox”, what would you think they meant? In our culture, it might suggest someone who is clever, sly, or “slick.”
But in the Hebrew and Aramaic of Jesus’ day, “fox” suggested something more like, “imposter,” – or “insignificant.”
Jesus says that Herod – who calls himself a king – is really a nobody, no matter how much power he has.
Jesus has work to do – and a purpose to fulfill. And he’s going to do it. He’s not quite accurate in saying that “it is impossible for a prophets to be killed outside of Jerusalem.”
But many were.
Why?
Because Jerusalem was the center of religious and political power and authority.
And that is precisely where the prophetic voice is least welcome.
(Hebrews 11:35-38)
You may remember Elijah – who, hearing that King Ahab was working to get him killed, went straight to see Ahab – who said, “So, it is really you, you troublemaker of Israel?”
And Elijah retorts: “I haven’t made any trouble for Israel – YOU and your family are the troublemakers, for you have refused to obey the commands of God and worshiped the images of Baal instead.” (1 Kings 18:17-18
This is pretty much the standard response by real prophets. In fact, it’s one of the marks of a real prophet that they didn’t just say what the rulers wanted them to say – but were willing to stand up against them.
So Jesus says: “Go tell that jerk that I’m going to keep right on doing what is right to do – You do whatever you want.”
What if we dared that?
What happens when the people of God and their leaders say
“Go tell that fox that we are gong to keep healing people today and tomorrow and the next day.”
Go tell that fox that we are going to keep loving our enemies today and tomorrow and the next day?
Go tell that fox that we’re going to keep caring for the poor, the widow, the orphan, the stranger today and tomorrow and the next day.
Go tell that fox that were going to keep proclaiming release to the captives, and freedom for the oppressed, today and tomorrow and the next day.
Go tell that fox that we’re going to keep fighting racism and white supremacy today and tomorrow and the next day.
What if the people of God stood and courageously as President Zelensky is doing in Ukraine – saying simply,
“Do whatever you want – You don’t frighten us.”
Or as courageously and calmly as Jesus. “Go tell that fox…”
We already know who we are – “buried with Christ in baptism” – We have already “been crucified with Christ and no longer live individual, separate lives, but Christ lives within us – “
That’s a lot like the first Christians lived – and died.
And they died for the same reason Jesus did – for refusing to give the allegiance that belongs to God and to the kingdom of God to ANY earthly ruler. They called out kings and emperors and magistrates –
But see how Jesus loves the people who are seduced by Herod – or afraid of Herod – “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the cit that kills the messengers and stones the prophets” – How often I have wanted to gather your children together as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings – and you wouldn‘t come -”
Jesus isn’t simply a rebel.
He calls out Herod and often the Pharisees – because he sees himself as that mother hen trying to protect her chicks – from the ever-present fox – the predator who somehow convinces the chicks that they are safer with the fox in the henyard – than with their mother.
He challenges the fox – but weeps over the chicks.
And then he resolves to go on and to enter the city of Jerusalem himself – where he will ride in on a donkey – accept the praises of the people who understand the significance of that ride – and allow himself to be killed by power –
which that will finally demonstrate even to all the powers that think they are something – that Herod actually has no power at all over God – over Life –
This is exactly why we stamp our feet at the Easter Vigil and trash all evil – and gloat over all the Herods of this world – saying that their power “has been annihilated!”
And then we will sing and sing and sing – but we will sing more happily if we have joined the walk to Jerusalem every day – saying “Tell that fox”.
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