The Fox and Hen

Text:  Luke 13:31-35

            The forces of hell were unleashed by Number Ten and the Conservative party after he predicted the worst economic downturn in sixty years.  At least this was Alistair Darling’s take on things in an interview on Sky this week.  According to Darling it was an uncomfortable weekend, one he could have done without.             “The forces of hell were unleashed.”  Is this not hyperbole?  Did Darling receive death threats?  No.  The worst that could have happened to him is that he would have lost his position and perhaps his political reputation.  Darling had a few bad days at work.  It was unpleasant.  But hell?

            “The forces of hell unleashed” more aptly describes the beatings, death threats, imprisonment, and murders executed by those who resisted Apartheid in South Africa.  The forces of hell were unleashed against Steve Biko.  His story is powerfully portrayed in the film “Cry Freedom” and his character played by Denzil Washington.  Biko was a black activist striving for equality for his people in South Africa.  He was the one who coined the phrase, “Black is beautiful”.  He was arrested, beaten about the head, transported naked in the back of a police van for 1200 kms, and died en route to the police hospital. 

            White journalist and chief editor of the Daily Dispatch, Donald Wood, a critic become friend of Biko, photographed his beaten corpse.  He set out to expose what the police had done in a meeting with the South African Minister of Justice.  Instead of justice, the forces of hell were unleashed against him.  Tactics of terror culminated in lacing his family’s clothes with acid.  One of his children was seriously burned.  Woods and his family were forced to flee to England.

            “The forces of hell are being unleashed against you Jesus,” the Pharisees warned.  “Quick!  You’d better run.  Herod Antipas has issued a death warrant.  Flee or you’ll be dead within days.”  Were they warning him as friends or foes?  Our instinct is that the Pharisees are enemies of Jesus and are trying to scare Jesus and divert him from his mission.  It’s true that Jesus had clashes with the Pharisees.              However, not all Pharisees had it in for Jesus.  In Luke Jesus frequently eats with the Pharisees.  In Luke’s second volume, Acts, Paul’s teacher (22:3) Gamaliel is a Pharisee whose moderating voice discourages persecution of Jesus’ followers (5:34).  Paul describes himself as a Pharisee when he is put on trial for being a follower of Christ (23:6).  We also know that there were believers who remained Pharisees because they spoke at the gathering in Jerusalem maintaining that Gentile Christ-followers must be circumcised (15:5).  It is possible that these particular Pharisees who delivered this warning were genuinely concerned about Jesus’ safety. 

            Whether these Pharisees were hostile or helpful, Jesus’ words glow with white hot determination.  “Go and tell that fox….”  Foxes were considered destructive animals that killed poultry and livestock.  Was this Jesus’ way of indirectly saying, “Go and tell the murderer…”?  After all, Herod had locked John in prison and had him beheaded. 

            What message did Jesus send to the fox?  “You can’t frighten me.  Unleash the powers of hell on me and I will not be silenced.  I have no intention of putting my mission on hold.  I’ll cast out I’ll cast out demons today.  I’ll heal tomorrow.  On the third day I’ll finish my work.  Today, tomorrow and the next day I will keep on track.  I’m heading for Jerusalem.  No prophet can be killed outside of Jerusalem.”  The ‘today and tomorrow’ describes the brief time of Jesus’ ministry.  The duration of exorcisms and healings will not be dictated by Herod or anyone else.  On the third day he will choose to finish his work…to be on his way…to take the road into Jerusalem and to share the fate of the prophets in death.  The third day points towards the day of resurrection.  Luke portrays Jesus as the consummation of Moses and Elijah…of the Law and the Prophets.  Jesus’ ministry, death and resurrection are all wrapped up together in God’s saving action. 

            Jesus’ death in Jerusalem is important to the Luke.  The Gospel begins in the temple in Jerusalem with Gabriel’s appearance to Zechariah telling of John the Baptist’s birth.  Eight days into Jesus’ life and he is in the temple in Jerusalem with Simeon singing and Anna praising.  Twelve years into Jesus’ life he is lost to his parents in the temple in Jerusalem, discovering that his destiny is to be in his Father’s house.  The whole direction of Jesus’ ministry is en route to Jerusalem.  Jerusalem continues to be the focal point after Jesus’ resurrection and ascension when the disciples are commanded to wait in Jerusalem until they have received the power and promise of the Father (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4).

            Jesus’ fearless response to Herod the fox turns to a lament for Jerusalem.  Jesus anguishes over this city which has silenced with stones the prophets sent to her.  Soaked in the Wisdom tradition, Jesus voices his sorrow in the language of Woman Wisdom.  In Proverbs 8 she stands at the crossroads and pleads with people to hear her voice.  Here Jesus speaks with the voice of Wisdom expressing the desire of a mother hen gathering her brood under the safety and warmth of her wings.  The vivid image is of chicks scattering in every direction despite every attempt of their mother to shelter them.  Jerusalem has resisted the gathering of God in Jesus.  Their rejection results in their abandonment:  their house is left to them.  As long as they are not willing to be gathered by the mothering wings of God, they will not see Jesus.  Yes, there will come a time in the not too distant future when they will see Jesus make his way to Jerusalem and they will see him acclaimed, “Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!” (Psalm 118:26).  Will they see in Jesus the coming Messiah?  It’s as if Jesus peers into the future and sees the moment when he enters Jerusalem to songs of praise and, when he does, some of the Pharisees demand, “Teacher, order your disciples to stop” (19:39).  Jesus declares that if he were to silence them then the stones would start shouting (19:40). 

            Jesus’ journey towards the cross was unswerving and filled with sorrow.  He would not be frightened by the fox - by his opponents.  His love was as strong as that of a mother hen and thus his agony over the recalcitrance of the people of Jerusalem.          Followers of Jesus are pilgrims with him.  During Lent we focus on the costly nature of what it means to be a disciple.  Jesus is clear that “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me” (9:23; also 14:27).  Cross carrying involves unswerving determination to follow Jesus even when the forces of hell are unleashed against us, even at the prospect of death.  Cross carrying involves lament for those who resist the mothering of God in Jesus.  When did we last weep for someone who stubbornly refused to be gathered under the wings of God’s grace?

            Do I believe in Jesus and follow him so nearly that I would be prepared to pursue it even if it meant danger and death?  Would I remain true to my faith if the forces of hell were unleashed against me? 

            Would I have the courage of 73 year old Sister Dorothy Stang who stood up for the poor of Brazil by challenging those burning down the forests?  The forces of hell were unleashed against her when she was shot in the back at point blank range whilst reading from the Matthew’s Gospel, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.”  She risked her life for people she loved. 

            Would I have the courage of Archbishop Oscar Romero?   He refused to be courted by important government officials.  He refused to cave in to the pressure of his fellow clergyman.  He refused to stop speaking out against the violence that was decimating the people of El Salvador.  He challenged the military and that sealed his fate.  The forces of hell were unleashed against him.  A sniper shot him on the 24 March 1980, while he was leading worship.

            Will I have the courage to take up the cross and follow Jesus to Jerusalem this week?  When I see a work colleague being belittled and bullied, will I choose to speak out, even if it has consequences for me?  If I see someone being taken advantage of by another, will I offer to be with them as they stand up for themselves?  If I hear a sexist remark will I speak out against ‘the destructive fox’?  Will I resist every disparaging and dehumanising word or action in the name of Jesus whose death and resurrection is the final word against death?  Will I become the mothering presence of God gently urging people to take shelter under the wings of grace?  Will I acclaim the Lord’s coming with my whole life?