Utter Pharisee and friends may think you mean their least favorite
politician. Mention fox and people
may think you mean a news channel. Say fearless
and they will imagine a Taylor Swift song. Because few would match your words
with our Gospel, allow me, fellow followers, a moment for each word: Pharisees
who came to Jesus, Herod the fox, Fearless Jesus and His followers today.
First, Pharisees. During Jesus’
time, Palestinian Jews were not a united people. In their attitude to the law
and the Temple, differences existed among them, compounded by varying political
allegiances and intrigues. The first-century historian, Josephus, mentioned
three ‘sects’ among the Jews: Pharisees, Sadducees and Essenes, and in
Palestine, Samaritans.[1]
Pharisees were a political party, a
social movement, and a school of thought in the Holy Land. After the
destruction of the Temple in 70 AD, their beliefs became the foundational,
liturgical and ritualistic basis for Judaism.[2]
The first mention of the Pharisees
and their beliefs came in the four gospels and the book of Acts, where we find
their meticulous adherence to their interpretation of the Torah as well as
their view of salvation and the end time.
We derive Pharisee from the Ancient
Greek meaning “set apart or separated.” Opponents dubbed them the “Separated
Ones” because of their strict avoidance of Gentiles, unclean persons, sinners
and Jews less observant of the Torah.
Now, the goal of all Jews was that
Israel be a nation holy, sacred and dedicated to God. The Pharisees sought to
achieve this by education, knowledge and a strict interpretation of the Torah.
This attitude separated them from everyone else whom they considered rabble
ignorant of the law.[3]
Yet, because they were meticulous observers of the Law, this rabble viewed
Pharisees as liberals.
We do not credit the Pharisees for
being the most constructive force in Jewish spirituality. We base our negative
view primarily on what we read in Matthew 23, where Jesus criticized them for their
separatism.
Next, foxes. Foxes are
small-to-medium-sized, omnivorous mammals that are pests because they attack
rabbits, hens and small livestock.
Throughout Scripture, God’s people
considered foxes pests and predators. In Nehemiah, we read, “Tobiah
the Ammonite … said, ‘Yes, what they are building—if a fox goes up on it he
will break down their stone wall!’”[4]
Lost in translation is the fact that foxes and jackals infested ruined and
desolate places on the mount and city of Zion.[5]
The Book of Lamentations ends with, “Mount
Zion … lies desolate; jackals prowl over it.”[6]
The Prophet Ezekiel cried, “O Israel, your prophets are like the foxes
in the deserts.”[7]
And Solomon sang, “Catch for us the foxes, the little foxes that ruin our vineyards that
are in bloom.”[8]
The fox Jesus referenced in our
Gospel was Herod Antipas, tetrarch of Galilee. Josephus described Herod as a
crafty and incestuous prince. Our Lord saw him as one who prowled and ruined lives
that were in bloom.
In Luke 3, we read that Herod locked
John in prison because John admonished him for his illicit affair with his
sister-in-law.[9]
After he beheaded John,[10]
“Herod
… heard about all that was happening, and he was perplexed, because it was said
by some that John had been raised from the dead. … Herod said, ‘John I
beheaded, but who is this about whom I hear such things?’ And he sought to see [Jesus].”[11]
“When
Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad, for he had long desired to see him, because
he had heard about him, and he was hoping to see some sign done by him. So he questioned
him at some length, but he made no answer. … Herod and his soldiers treated him
with contempt and mocked him. Then, arraying him in splendid clothing, he sent
him back to Pilate.”[12]
Herod the Tetrarch was an enemy of
Jesus, but not the terrorist his father was. In today’s gospel Jesus was
teaching about the coming upheaval where the “first will be last and the last
will be first” when Pharisees interrupted to warn him to flee because
Herod sought to kill him.
An unusual moment between Jesus and the
Pharisees because we think Jesus and the Pharisees were always at odds. After
all, earlier in Luke, Jesus stated the Pharisees were full of greed and
wickedness. Here, they seem to be genuinely concerned. Most likely, they were
wishing Jesus would leave and stop attracting crowds.
Jesus responded as if they reported
to Herod, and ordered them to tell that fox He was casting out demons and
performing cures today and tomorrow, and would finish His work on the third
day. I imagine Herod wanted to be referred to as a lion or a tiger for a fox is
weak, sly and sneaky; but Jesus made it clear that the work of preaching the
kingdom and healing the broken must culminate in Jerusalem and from that he
will not retreat, for Jesus, unlike the Pharisees and the fox, was fearless.
Fearless, obviously means without
fear. The words fear and experiment stem from the same Latin words meaning to
try or press forward – as in experiment or trial. One who experimented or pressed
forward was fearless.[13]
In Luke, Jesus pressed forward when,
in 9:51, he “set
his face toward Jerusalem.” As he traveled toward his
ultimate fate, he preached, taught and healed. “Yet today, tomorrow and the next
day,” the third day was always a foreshadowing in the gospels, just as
we heard “on the third day there was a wedding at Cana of Galilee.”[14] Jesus told the Pharisees
he would not leave. He would not be detoured, deterred or daunted. He would press
forward to Jerusalem because they did not kill prophets outside the city.
It
was almost as if saying the word “Jerusalem” broke Jesus’ heart. He sobbed a
lament that echoed every prophet’s broken heart from Isaiah to Malachi, and then
shared a tender image. “I have gathered your
children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not
willing!”[15]
The
image of God as a hen lays bare God’s vulnerability. The mother hen opens her
wings wide and gathers as many as she can; but even a mother hen cannot make
the chicks come in regardless of how open the invitation.[16]
Jesus
called Herod a fox, and then imaged himself as mother hen. Even though 2000
years ago “fox in the henhouse” was not a common phrase, Luke’s readers, and
we, get the message.
Jesus
had disciples. Herod had soldiers. Jesus served. Herod ruled. Jesus prayed for
his enemies. Herod killed his. In a contest between a fox and a chicken, whom
would you bet on?[17]
Jesus’ mission challenged the status quo, which is dangerous business[18] for the fearless and the
follower.
Finally, follower. Some simple
definitions of follower include someone who supports and is guided by another
person or by a group or religion. A person who likes and admires (someone or
something) very much or someone who does what other people say to do.[19]
We derive the noun follower from the
verb follow. It means to accompany or move in the same direction. It also means
to obey a rule or law, conform to, act in accordance with, or apply oneself to
a practice, trade, or calling.[20]
Christians are followers. Leadership
books, courses and summits aside, Christians are followers of the Way. The
world knew Christians first as Followers of the Way because they followed Jesus
who identified himself as the way.[21]
In Acts 9, we read how Saul sought followers of the Way, those following in
this way, or followed the way of Christ.[22]
After his conversion, Paul stated, “I
persecuted the followers of this Way to their death, arresting both men and
women and throwing them into prison. … I admit that I worship the God of our
ancestors as a follower of the Way.[23]
Are you a follower of the Way? A
follower of the Way of Christ? … Richard de Wych, better known as Richard of
Chichester, wrote a prayer 800 years ago that reads:
Thanks be to Thee, my Lord Jesus
Christ
For all the benefits Thou hast given
me,
For all the pains and insults Thou
hast borne for me.
O most merciful Redeemer, friend and
brother,
May I know Thee more clearly,
Love Thee more dearly,
Follow Thee more nearly.[24]
Stephen Schwartz adapted and
embellished Richard’s prayer into a song we know as Day by Day from Godspell.
Day by day, Day by day
Oh Dear Lord, three things I pray:
To see thee more clearly,
Love thee more dearly,
Follow thee more nearly,
Day by Day.[25]
Schwatrz’s song and Richard’s prayer
came to mind as a result of a book of poetry I am reading for my Lenten
meditation.[26]
In a reflection on Simon of Cyrene, the author cites the verse, “They
found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name. They compelled this man to carry his
cross.”[27]
He then writes:
A new unforeseen encounter on the
Way of the Cross.
He emerges out of nowhere, this
complete stranger.
Chosen to be Jesus’ helper.
Compelled to be his companion.
Cut out of the multitude …
The soldiers force him to follow
Jesus,
To be his follower and friend. …
Simon does not choose the cross.
It is already there.
Without a word,
He lifts it upon his shoulder. …
Grateful, Christ turns around
And lifts his gaze upon Simon.
He shows him the face of the Father.
Only God can look like that: up and
back at a human being.
Jesus’ eyes rest upon him.
Just like the other day, with the
searching young man.
He then cites Mark 10:21: “Jesus,
looking at him, loved him, and said to him, ‘You lack one thing: go, sell all
that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treaure in heaven; and
come, follow me.’” The poem continues.
Perhaps Simon is this rich man
Who came back to follow him.
Perhaps it is not him.
In any case, Jesus takes time
To broaden any brief instant to
unforgettable eternity.
Jesus looks back and calls him:
“Simon, do you really want to follow
me?”
Carrying the cross, Simon will
become Jesus’ closest friend.
Carrying the cross, Simon will
become Christian. …
Then, reflecting on Simon Peter, and
the parable of the father who asked his two sons to work the vineyard, the poem
concludes.
I recognize both dynamics in me.
When everything goes fine,
I eagerly take up my cross. …
When everything goes wrong,
It is precisely my cross that
becomes my love.
From now on, for the rest of his
life,
Jesus will not walk alone.
Simon follows him, faithful and
hidden.
Adopting his unlikely rhythm,
We will not hear from him anymore.
But he is there, in the shadow of
his Lord.
Friends, this Lent, embrace the
cross and follow Jesus. Whether you encounter Pharisees or foxes, stubborn people
with the best intentions or vicious perpetrators with bloodthirsty tastes,
embrace the cross like Simon and follow Jesus. Let his eyes rest upon you. And
when they do, may the peace of God that surpasses all understanding keep your
hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.[28] Amen.
[1]
JBC - 1243
[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pharisees
[3]
John 7:49
[4]
Nehemiah 4:3
[5] http://biblehub.com/nehemiah/4-3.htm
[6]
Lamentations 5:18
[7]
Ezekiel 13;4
[8]
Song of Solomon 2:15
[9]
Luke 3:19-20
[10]
Mark 6:21-28
[11]
Luke 9:7-9
[12]
Luke 23:8-11
[13] http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=fear
[14]
John 2:1
[15]
Luke 13:34
[17] http://www.fourthchurch.org/sermons/2001/040801.html
[18] http://www.nextsundayworship.com/february-21-2016/
[19] http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/follower
[20] http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?allowed_in_frame=0&search=follow
[21]
John 14:6
[22] http://biblehub.com/acts/9-2.htm
[23]
Acts 22:4, 14 NIV
[24] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_of_Chichester
[25] http://www.stlyrics.com/lyrics/godspell/daybyday.htm
[26]
Bert Daelemans, An Ignatian Journey of the Cross: Exercises in Discernment.
Liturgical Press, Collegeville, MN (2015), 32ff.
[27]
Matthew 27:32
[28]
Philippians 4:7
