Luke 13:31\u201335<\/p>\n
(Text New Revised Standard Version copyright \u00a9 1989, 1995 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America.)<\/p>\n
31<\/sup>At that very hour some Pharisees came and said to him, \u201cGet away from here, for Herod wants to kill you.\u201d 32<\/sup>He said to them, \u201cGo and tell that fox for me, \u2018Listen, I am casting out demons and performing cures today and tomorrow, and on the third day I finish my work. 33<\/sup>Yet today, tomorrow, and the next day I must be on my way, because it is impossible for a prophet to be killed outside of Jerusalem.\u2019 34<\/sup>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! 35<\/sup>See, your house is left to you. And I tell you, you will not see me until the time comes when you say, \u2018Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n Note: <\/strong>The initial paragraphs in italics<\/em> of this sermon might be used as the basis for a Children\u2019s message. If not used that way, one might adapt it as the beginning of the \u201cusual\u201d sermon, or insert part of it later in the sermon\u2026or earlier in the service.<\/p>\n Good morning! \u201cFinish what you started!\u201d <\/em>1<\/sup>Have you ever heard that? Who said it? (with questions in the Children\u2019s time, I usually allow for youth to answer…knowing that this may sidetrack things if I don\u2019t stay on my toes and \u201csteer things\u201d along the way). With each of these what might be some results if we don\u2019t finish what we started?<\/em><\/p>\n Now, what happens if the task is completed? (go back through each task and note the benefit of each completed task)<\/em><\/p>\n In today\u2019s Gospel reading Jesus talked about finishing his work. In this story it means curing the people he will meet in the next few days, and maybe teaching or preaching, too. We also heard that King Herod is threatening him and the people of Jerusalem don\u2019t want what Jesus has to offer. We might say that King Herod and the people of Jerusalem were getting in the way of Jesus finishing his work. But Jesus was intent on finishing what God sent him to do. I\u2019ll talk more about that during the rest of the sermon. <\/em><\/p>\n But for now, would you pray with me? God, thank you for tasks we have to finish; in doing them we grow as people who live in families. Thank you for the great love you have shown us by sending your Son, Jesus. Thank you that Jesus finished his work in today\u2019s story. Thank you that Jesus finished the work you sent him to do in giving his life on the cross for all. Help us follow him and finish the things you call us to do that share your love with others. Amen.<\/em><\/p>\n Grace, mercy, and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. Have you ever completed an obstacle course? Maybe it was in a Physical Education class in school\u2026or at a YMCA camp\u2026or in Basic Training in military service\u2026or sometimes a room or two in a house looks like an obstacle course. Anyway, we might think about the goals of most courses. It might be things like these:<\/p>\n This last goal is one that cannot be completed alone. You might gain endurance or strength alone, but team work takes a team.<\/p>\n Jesus\u2019 resolve to finish his work has been part of Luke\u2019s story already.<\/p>\n Some of you might recall that in chapter 9 when Jesus asked the disciples \u201c\u2026who do you say I am?\u201d Peter answered, \u201cThe Messiah of God,\u201d that is, God\u2019s anointed one. Moments later Jesus added, \u201cThe Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.\u201d It is with this resolve that Jesus moves forward.<\/p>\n Shortly after that we hear of Jesus, \u201c\u2026he set his face to go to Jerusalem.\u201d It\u2019s like Jesus set his GPS destination as Jerusalem, and he would follow the course with no detours, no need for the GPS to recalculate how to get to the goal.<\/p>\n At least one more time on the way to Jerusalem, that is in chapter 18, Jesus will speak about being mocked and more, and then killed.<\/p>\n In the Gospel text today Jesus will move through or past a couple of obstacles<\/em><\/strong>: because his resolve is to go to Jerusalem, because his goal is Jerusalem. One obstacle is Herod Antipas. We heard that some of the Pharisees came to Jesus and said, \u201cGet away from here, for Herod wants to kill you.\u201d This is NOT Herod the Great \u2013<\/p>\n But, Herod Antipas was one of the surviving 4 sons of Herod the Great. Each of these sons ruled a portion of their father\u2019s kingdom. Antipas ruled Galilee, in what we would call northern Israel, by the Sea of Galilee and near modern day Lebanon. Herod Antipas is the one who liked to listen to John the Baptist\u2026but had John jailed because his words upset Herod\u2019s wife\u2026and eventually this Herod had John beheaded.<\/p>\n So, it is THAT Herod. Still, what does Jesus say in response to the Pharisees? Jesus basically says \u201cGet out of my way, Herod. I\u2019m headed to Jerusalem.\u201d But the scriptural words of Jesus are these, \u201cGo and tell that fox for me, \u2018Listen, I am casting out demons and performing cures today and tomorrow, and on the third day I finish my work. 33<\/sup>Yet today, tomorrow, and the next day I must be on my way, because it is impossible for a prophet to be killed outside of Jerusalem.\u2019<\/p>\n A fox? We often think crafty or wily, as we find in later European folk tales. But if I understand correctly, ancient Jews didn\u2019t think of foxes that way. They were simply varmints. A few years ago I attended a gathering of our synod\u2019s pastors for a day of activities led by our Synod staff. The preacher that day, reflecting on this text, asked a question, \u201cHow different is it to meet a lion on the road or a fox?\u201d He noted that if we were to meet a lion we would RUN and maybe have to fight for our very life. But a fox? This is no real threat. We might be startled, but a fox is not much bigger than a yippy dog\u2026one that might nip your heel\u2026one you might kick the dust at to say, \u201cGet out of my way.\u201d A fox is not much bigger than a schnauzer or yorkie. The Pharisees come to Jesus with what they think is a major obstacle for Jesus. But, for Jesus Herod may be an obstacle, but NOT one that will deter him from his course.<\/p>\n Once Jesus notes the name Jerusalem as his goal, he shifts from Herod to the people of Jerusalem. This is because Jesus knows not only that he will suffer and die there, but that the people will reject him. So, here he laments, \u201cJerusalem, 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!\u201d<\/p>\n If I am correct, some of the early artwork of Christians included images of a hen with wings spread as if she were gathering her chicks but there are no chicks to be seen. Other times there are chicks under her wings. Either way, there is often a reference to that verse with those drawings or mosaics. Whether the chicks are or are not in the picture, they represent Jesus\u2019 desire\u2026but they were not willing. A hen waits; clucks, calls yes; but waits. A hen does not chase the chicks. Someone, I don\u2019t even know who it was, created a contrast. They said, \u201cA hen gathers chicks but does not chase them. A fox chases chicks, but does not gather them.\u201d Let me repeat that. \u201cA hen gathers chicks but does not chase them. A fox chases chicks, but does not gather them.\u201d<\/p>\n Jesus is drawn to the center of life for his own people. Jesus is drawn to the center of Jerusalem. Jesus is drawn to that center, yet he knows the people he loved were not willing to be embraced by his love. Jesus knows that the people he loved were not willing to be gathered under his wings. Yet, Jesus, does not let rejection be an obstacle that will prevent him from going his way. God in Christ moves past all obstacles. God in Christ moves past Herod the fox. God in Christ moves past rejection by his own people. God in Christ waits as a hen spreads her wings and waits for her chicks.<\/p>\n You and I know that God in Christ moves past obstacles and Jesus will spread not his wings but his arms. Jesus will be crucified on a cross, arms outstretched\u2026and die. And, you know Jesus will be raised to life on the third day and spread his arms again; spread his arms anew; waiting for us as a hen waits for her chicks. God in Christ moves past all obstacles then and now to come to us. Jesus\u2019 love was opposed 2000 years ago and yet, Jesus kept moving toward the object of his love. Jesus love may be opposed today, yet Jesus keeps moving toward us, the object of his love.<\/p>\n We might put up obstacles. We might put up an obstacle like, \u201cI don\u2019t deserve your love. I\u2019m not good enough.\u201d Well the truth is we don\u2019t deserve Jesus\u2019 love, we are not good enough\u2026BUT Jesus still moves closer and calls to us with open arms. Or we might put up an obstacle like, \u201cI don\u2019t need your love that much\u2026I\u2019ve got this\u2026I can do better.\u201d Well the truth is we do need Jesus\u2019 love (whether we recognize it or not\u2026and we might or might not do better\u2026BUT still Jesus moves closer and calls to us with open arms.<\/p>\n God in Christ moves past obstacles and comes to us in the Word we receive in the hearing of scripture and it\u2019s proclamation. God in Christ moves past obstacles and comes to us in, with and under the water and word of Baptism. God in Christ moves past obstacles and comes to us as his body and life blood in, with and under the bread and wine of Holy Communion. God in Christ moves past obstacles and comes to us in, with and under the mutual conversation and consolation among God\u2019s people. God in Christ moves past obstacles and comes to us in, with and under God\u2019s poor and rejected people.<\/p>\n God in Christ moves past all obstacles then and now. Jesus finished what he started, on the cross\u2026and he continues to finish what he started in and through each of us. How do we live as a people loved and called as a hen gathers her chicks? Maybe we spread our wings, open our arms and open our hearts to the vulnerable people around us. Maybe we as God\u2019s people move past obstacles to embrace those who are unloved by others. Maybe we as God\u2019s people trust the one who gathers us under his wings, and trust that God works through us to draw others under those wings. Amen. In the name of the Father, and of the +Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.<\/p>\n \u00a9Pr. Luther H. Thoresen, ELCA, STS, retired; thoresenluther54@gmail.com<\/a>; Grundy Center, IA, USA<\/p>\n\n
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