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March 4, 2007
Scripture: Luke 13: 31-35
Title: “The Fox and the Hen”

As we continue on this Lenten journey, our thoughts turn toward Easter and what happens in the town of Jerusalem to Jesus and his disciples. And our scriptures give us a sense of irony through the images that are used in this passage today. A Fox and a hen. Could two things be more different? We all remember the fables that were shared with us as children concerning a fox and a hen. The fox was always trying to outwit or trick the hen to leaving the henhouse. It seemed as if the fox and the hen would always be in a constant struggle with each other, each one looking to survive and share their story.

Now, I have to tell you, I have not had much experience with foxes or hens. I am city girl. Usually the hens that I see are in a petting zoo behind chicken wire or at my grocery store. And foxes, well, the foxes that I have seen are at the zoo. Usually red and behind some glass.
So I fully admit I don’t know much about foxes and hens. However, I am not so far from my family’s farmer roots that I don’t know what happens if a fox ever gets in a hen house. It is not a pretty picture.
The Fox and the hen. Why would Luke choose such seemingly different characters to describe the relationship between Jesus, the city of Jerusalem, and the people that he came to save? The fox and the hen.

The audience that Luke is writing to knows the importance of the city of Jerusalem throughout the history between God and God’s people. It is the essential piece of the Promised Land. The temple was built there as a permanent home for God. It is a place where the people of God are suppose to feel connected with their God. Jerusalem is the place where God dwelled. And Jerusalem also held the promises of redemption and reconciliation with God for God’s people.

An interesting thing to note is that this story is also found in the Gospel of Matthew but later in the story. In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus has already entered into the city of Jerusalem with the people crying Hosanna! Blessed be the King!
In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus is on his way to Jerusalem. He is journeying to the city and he is already looking toward the events that will happen when he enters the gates of the city and what waits him after the joyous celebrations with palms.
Jesus is greeted by some Pharisees who tell him that Herod is out to kill Jesus. The Pharisees warn Jesus to not continue on this path that he has chosen because it would surely lead to destruction and death. We usually understand that the Pharisees are out to get Jesus but there is nothing to suggest that this is what is happening here in this passage. They seem to be just passing a message along.

And Jesus replies, “Tell that fox that he cannot stop me. I am doing God’s work and nothing he does will stop the Kingdom of God from coming into reality. The fox. Seen as destructive, sly, and cunning.
The worldly power has tried to prevent the Kingdom of God from coming to fruition from the very beginning. When King Herod hears that a new king was born, he has babies killed in hopes that he cut short the dream of redemption and freedom for the people who were crying out for a Messiah. When King Herod hears that John the Baptist is preaching sermons that stir up the passions and hopes of the people, he has John arrested and then later beheaded to once again prevent the Kingdom of God coming to the people. And now King Herod is suspicious of this new prophet from Nazareth. There are reports that he is John the Baptist come back to life. There are reports that he is healing people. There are reports that this new prophet is preaching once again about God’s justice and peace. And he must be stopped! The fox. Sly, destructive, and cunning. The perfect image for a king who tricks, who lies, and who plans the destruction and death of the innocent.

Jesus is looking toward Jerusalem. He knows what awaits him beyond the city gates. He could leave and be safe from the fox but then what about the children of God? But then what will happen to the chicks that are in need of protection from the fox?

“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!”

There is a real and present sense of danger for the people in Jerusalem and in the world. They are being lured away by the fox to a sure death. They are forgetting their God. They are forgetting who they are called to be. They are forgetting who they are. The people of Jerusalem are like “pale yellow chicks [who] are huddled out in the open where anything with claws can get to them.”
Time and time again, God has sent prophets to the people of Israel to bring them back to God. Time and time again, God has wanted to bring the people into God. Time and time again, God has wanted to gather the people to God as a mother hen gathers her chicks and protects them.

And time and time again, the people reject God and the prophets. The people leave the nest, not listening to the voice of the protective hen. The people leave the safety of the wings to explore this new world and are tricked by the fox.
The people reject God and reject the prophets who remind them of God’s will. These Prophets are killed. These Prophets are threatened. These Prophets are rejected with they speak out against the injustices of the world. When they speak out against the powers that be. When they speak out against the norms and acceptable standards of a world that oppresses and divides.

The Fox and the hen.

And now God sends another prophet to the city of Jerusalem and for the people of the world. This is the struggle-the fox and the hen. Who is going to win?

The fox and the hen.

Luke reminds us that Jesus comes as the unexpected. No one expected a baby born in a manger to be the Messiah. No one expected a son of a carpenter to be a King. No one expected a hen to lay down its life while protecting its children.
And that is exactly what Jesus does. Jesus flips our world around.
“A hen is what Jesus chooses… which is as far from a fox as you can get. That way the options become very clear: you can live by licking your chops or you can die protecting the chicks. What [Jesus] will be is a mother hen, who stands between the chicks and those who mean to do them harm. She has no fangs, no claws, no rippling muscles. All she has is her willingness to shield her babies with her own body. If the fox wants them, he will have to fill her first.”

The struggle on the way to Jerusalem is as old as time. Who will win the fox or the hen?
Will the fox lead the chicks away from the hen house? Will the fox outwit the hen? Who will win this struggle-the fox or the hen? Will the people of God turn toward their mother and be gathered under the protective wings?
Who will win? The fox or the hen?

Will we listen to the hen’s call and come running to return to the safety that love provides? Will we listen to the cunning, sly fox that tries to tempt us away the security that love provides?

Who will win? The fox or the hen?

Rev. Heather McColl
Midway Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)

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