Second Sunday in Lent 2025
Luke 13:31-35
Rev. Neli
Miranda
Following
his baptism in Judea, Jesus returned to Galilee, where he has carried out most
of his ministry. He now journeys towards Jerusalem as Luke has indicated in
earlier passages: “When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his
face to go to Jerusalem” (9:51). Luke describes Jesus traveling through towns
and villages, proclaiming the Kingdom of God as he makes his way to Jerusalem. Today
we read that, while Jesus teaches, some Pharisees warn him of Herod’s murderous
intent: “Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you” (13,31). This is
Herod Antipas, tetrarch of Galilee and Perea, a Roman puppet king who feels
threatened by Jesus’ liberating proclamation of the Kingdom of God. His father,
Herod—called the Great—ordered the massacre of the infants in Bethlehem,
seeking to kill the child Jesus. Following his father’s footsteps, Herod
Antipas, known for the execution of John the Baptist, will also participate in
Jesus’ trial in Jerusalem, treating him with contempt and mockery, and dressing
him in luxurious robes as if he were a king.
In response
to the Pharisees’ warning, Jesus replies with courage and determination, saying,
“Go and tell that fox for me, ‘Listen, I am casting out demons and performing
cures today and tomorrow, and on the third day I finish my work. Yet…
I must be on my way, because it is impossible for a prophet to be killed
outside of Jerusalem’” (13,32-33).
Jesus calls
Herod a “fox”. Foxes, known for their malicious destructiveness, are considered
a threat to livestock, particularly sheep and goats, and are feared for
sneaking into chicken coops to steal and kill birds. The image of the “fox”
describes the destructive nature of Herod, who, although representing a threat,
cannot divert Jesus from his path to Jerusalem, the city that kills the
prophets.
Jerusalem,
the holy city, where the temple of God was built, had also a history of
violence against the prophets—those messengers sent by God to confront the
corrupt religious and political elite. Aware of what awaits him there, Jesus,
yearning for Jerusalem’s repentance and conversion, laments, “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! See, your house is
left to you” (13,34-35). His words are not merely an expression of anger or
judgment, but rather a lament for the lost and a yearning for their redemption.
Jesus calls
the inhabitants of Jerusalem to take refuge under his protective care. In contrast to Herod, whom he has called a
“fox”, Jesus identifies himself with a hen. The fox (Herod), representing a
violent and oppressive system, stands in stark contrast to the hen (Jesus),
symbolizing God’s tender, protective love. God has shown enduring love for the
people of Jerusalem, sending prophets to call them to repentance, and now, his
own son, Jesus. Yet, blinded by ambition and power, they have rejected God’s
love and protection, turning away from God. In his words, Jesus foretells
Jerusalem’s impending destruction, warning that its inhabitants do not live
under the divine protection. Ironically, the Roman Empire, under whose
protection they currently reside, will be their ultimate destroyer.
Sisters and
brothers, if Jesus were to speak prophetically to us today, his message might
resonate with the same tone of love, warning, and invitation to seek refuge
under God’s protective care. With whom do we form alliances today, and to whom
do we pledge our allegiance? Where do we seek shelter in the face of the
world’s dangers? Do we trust in human powers, or are we sheltered under the
protective divine wings? Living under divine protection requires us to
surrender our will to God and relinquish our reliance on self-made security or
the false promises of worldly powers.
As we
journey with Jesus toward Jerusalem this Lent, we also reflect on the powers
that dominate this world—powers that prioritize self-interest and perpetrate
injustice against those who proclaim God’s kingdom and speak truth to power. On
our path of faith, we too encounter “foxes” that threaten us, seeking to
obstruct our journey; however, Jesus teaches us today to resist these forces
with unwavering determination and to persevere in our journey of proclaiming
the Good News of God in our time.
May we
journey through this Lenten season with faith and determination, carrying Jesus’
message to those who oppose it, knowing that no earthly power can prevail
against those who trust in Jesus’ victory over death. Let us walk confidently
with Jesus towards Jerusalem, where opposition awaits, but where the glorious
morning of the resurrection also awaits us. Amen.
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