Some Pharisees came to Jesus and said, “Go away, leave this area because Herod wants to kill you.” He replied, “Go and tell that fox, ‘Behold, I cast out demons and I perform healings today and tomorrow, and on the third day I accomplish my purpose.Yet I must continue on my way today, tomorrow, and the following day, for it is impossible that a prophet should die outside of Jerusalem.’
“Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how many times I yearned to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, but you were unwilling! Behold, your house will be abandoned. But I tell you, you will not see me until the time comes when you say, Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.”
REFLECTION
“Go and tell that fox
Jesus was not politically correct. Present day commentaries would analyze the word "fox", eliciting many reactions of people on this statement regarding Herod. Why refer to Herod as a fox?
Just finished watching a movie, The Wild Robot. A shipwrecked robot is befriended by a fox. As expected, the fox was sly, destructive, and under the cover of night stole and destroyed. The robot's natural reaction to this fox was to flee.
Unlike real life, the movie fox eventually became docile, kind and nice. He is the best "bud" with the robot. In our present day fairy tale life, many people do not perceive the devil as a sly fox, telling lies, causing destruction, and doing and saying whatever to get its way. They become buddies with evil, whitewash wrongs, justify abortions, cheat, lie and forget God.
Herod wants Jesus dead. Herod is afraid that he will lose all power and authority. The crowd is scared and does not know right from wrong. Jesus is not accepted as the Messiah, the Son of David. Yet, He willingly travels to Jerusalem, knowing that He will be betrayed, rejected and put to death on the Cross. He promises and will fulfill victory and salvation.
Rather than fleeing the tyrant, Herod, Jesus tells us that without Him, we have a greater spiritual danger of losing both body and soul to hell. Be careful who you associate with, know the teachings of Jesus and follow Him. Avoid the sly foxes who deviously try to draw you to hell.
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