Sermon for Lent 2C
February 28, 2010
Texts:  Genesis 15:1-2,7-18; Psalm 27; Philippians 3:17-4:1; Luke 13:31-35

Jesus called Herod a fox!

A fox!

Was this a sly, slinky fox?
Or the proverbial fox in the henhouse?
Or a no account fox, not worth worrying about?

Foxes are ubiquitous, small time predators.
You can find them in all parts of the world
From the Sahara to the arctic.

In this area, the most common fox
Is the red fox.

Have you ever watched a red fox darting across a road
At dusk or daybreak,
Nose down, ears up, tail dragging.
Searching for breakfast.

They find their food
With their incredible sense of smell,
Better even than a cat.

When the fox finally gets close to its breakfast,
He pounces on it, but does not immediately kill it
The fox bats the food around, and plays with it,
Before finally eating it.

Yet when you think of predators
That strike fear into your heart,
The fox does not immediately come to mind
Unless, of course you are a mouse.
And Jesus is no mouse!

Lions, tigers, grizzly bears
And even wolves rate much higher on the fear scale.

Yet foxes are tricky and they are a nuisance.

In inhabited areas, trash cans are a favorite treat.

And, campers at Isle Royal National Park in Michigan
Are greeted with a sign
That has a picture of a fox
And a caption that says
“How far can you hike with one boot?”

So what did Jesus mean
When he called Herod a fox?
Was he referring to Herod’s cunning or his insignificance?

This Herod, is Herod Antipas
The son of Herod the Great,
The ruler who had originally tried to kill the baby Jesus,
When the magi identified the birth of a Messiah.

This Herod is a petty ruler,
A governor of ¼ of the territory ruled by his father.
He is so inconsequential that the Romans
Won’t even allow him to use the title King.

Yet in his territory he rules with an iron hand
He is, after all the ruler,
Who had John the Baptist’s head served up on a platter.

So, when we hear the Pharisees warning Jesus
To get out of Galilee, to run from Herod,
What did Jesus mean with his answer referring to Herod as a fox?

Jesus was on a trip,
A kind of mission trip to Jerusalem.

He knew that he was going to leave Galilee,
But he was going to do it on his own terms,
Or rather on his Father’s terms,
Not on Herod’s terms.

Herod, although a petty tyrant,
Who could murder with impunity,
Was merely a speed bump on Jesus’ trip to Jerusalem.

I think Jesus was denigrating Herod Antipas
When he referred to him as a fox.

Yes, he was a predator,
And yes, he did kill John the Baptist, Jesus’ cousin.
But Jesus did not fear Herod.
Jesus knows that he is going to die
Herod can’t do anything to him,
That isn’t already planned for him

Jesus knows that he is going to die
And that it is not going to be at the hands of Herod
And it is not going to occur in the Galilee.

Jesus knows that his trip to Jerusalem has to happen
And he also knows that Herod has no power over him.

Jerusalem will figure heavily in the events
At the end of Jesus’ life on earth.

He will die there.
He will be resurrected there.
The disciples will be told to wait there.
The Holy Spirit will descend upon the disciples there
And the Church will be born at Pentecost in Jerusalem.

Jesus’ death in Jerusalem had been prophesied at his transfiguration.
Moses and Elijah talked to him about his exodus from Jerusalem.

Jesus will confront evil and die in Jerusalem
And it is also in Jerusalem
Where with his resurrection, that he will triumph over death and evil.

So when the Pharisees helpfully warn Jesus of Herod’s intent
Jesus is able to brush off their concern,
Telling them to inform the fox Herod
That he has plans, mission and a destination,
And that Herod is not going to deter him.

Jesus has a journey planned
Including a date with death, resurrection and salvation
And this journey’s terminus will be in Jerusalem.

The fox Herod is a predator
And he has the power to kill,
But he is no match for the power of God.

Luke continually demonstrates
How the power of the Kingdom of God
Overcomes the power of humans,
Bent on enforcing their rules.  

Human power, even evil human power,
Cannot derail God’s plan for Jesus’ mission
And the resulting salvation of the human race.

If you are preparing for death,
A skirmish with a fox,
Is about as intimidating as buzzing mosquito—
Annoying yes, deadly no.

Jesus knew that he was in a place,
Physically and spiritually,
Where the power of an earthly fox
Would not distract him from his mission.

How about you?

What foxes, sly, sneaky foxes,
Potent, even if they are not deadly
Threaten to derail your journey:

Your 40 day Lenten journey in spiritual fitness,
To reclaim your baptismal identity?

Which earthly powers tempt you to take your eyes off the font
And your mind off of spiritual disciplines?

What fox running across your path
Is distracting you from a regular prayer life
And a relationship with God?

God has given you a mission in baptism
Along with the cross marked on your forehead.

When you were baptized,
God claimed you as God’s own
And charged you with the mission
To be a vital part of the Christian community.

Because God has promised you life and salvation,
Therefore you are part of Christ-centered community,
That serves as God’s hands in the world.

Your mission makes up your part of the baptismal covenant.

You or your sponsors made promises at your baptism.

If you were confirmed or a later joined the Church
You affirmed these same promises.

You promised to:
live among God's faithful people,
     regularly hear the word of God and share in the Lord's supper,
     proclaim the good news of God in Christ through word and deed,
     serve all people, following the example of Jesus,
     and strive for justice and peace in all the world.

This is a tall order
And one that cannot be accomplished by yourself.

Only By God working in and through you
Only by keeping your heart focused on Jesus Christ,
Only by being empowered by the Holy Spirit
Can you live a missional life directed by this covenant.

Because you are baptized, you want to live this life,
But there are many sly, sneaky, petty tyrant foxes out there
Which are capable of pulling away from this covenant.

There are attractive foxes,
Running across your path,
Sniffing the air,
Sensing any weakness in your resolve,
And searching for ways to pull you out of the orbit
Or your baptismal covenant.

The further you distance yourself from God’s Word,
God’s Holy Sacraments and God’s holy community,
The easier it is for the foxes to get in your proverbial hen house. 

The 40 day Lenten journey is about the spiritual fitness
That strengthens and nourishes you,
Helping you to keep your eyes on the covenant and the cross.

The regular hearing of God’s Word
Lets you counter the temptations of the fox.

Praying regularly and including a holy time of listening,
Provides an alternative to the tempting words spoken all around you.

Being an active part of a Christian Community
Provides additional barriers for fox-like entry,
And multiplies any attempts at mission. 
When your time is occupied serving other people
You have less time to give into temptations
To possess fox-like power.

The fox is indeed a sly sneaky animal.
One that tempts and plays with its prey.

Relaxing one’s guard in the presence of a fox
Can result in danger and harm.  

The fox’s power, is, however no match
For the power of the God the Father.

Jesus knew that Herod the fox
Would not detract him from his journey to Jerusalem.
Jesus knew that his Father would keep him on that path.

You, too have the assurance,
That God will not let the foxes of this world pull you away.

God wants you as part of the Church and the community.
God will not let the fox detract you,
Unless by your so-called free will,
You choose to walk away from your baptismal covenant.

May your 40 day Lenten journey
Be the path to spiritual fitness
That keeps you focused on your baptismal promises
And the love of God in your life.

Child of God,
You have been marked with the cross,
And sealed by the Holy Spirit forever.