Pastor Tom Johnson, February 24, 2013
Today’s Gospel reading is one of at least two times Jesus refers to Aesop’s Fables. One reference is to “The Quack Frog” where Jesus quotes the fable word for word, when he says, “Physician heal yourself” (Luke 4:23). This time Jesus refers to Aesop’s Fox and Hen. Aesop probably compiled these stories 500 years before Jesus was born since some of the stories have been found on Egypt on papyri dating back 1,000 years before Christ. In his stories, the Fox is smart, cunning, tricky, and hungry for bird meat. The hen is vulnerable, cautious, and always has to watch her back. Of course, in real life, the fox will always win if the fox gets ahold of a hen; there is little the poor chicken can do to escape his ravenous teeth. Listen to one of Aesop’s fables, about the Fox and the Hen (“The Fox, the Hen, and the Dog”):
One moonlight night a Fox was prowling about a farmer's chicken- coop, and saw a Hen roosting high up beyond his reach. “Good news, good news!” the fox cries. "Why, what is it?" says the Hen. "King Lion has declared a universal truce. No beast may hurt a bird henceforth, but all shall dwell together in brotherly friendship." "Why, that is good news," says the Hen; "and there I see someone coming, with whom we can share the good news." And so saying, she craned her neck forward and looked afar off. "What is it you see?" said the Fox. "It is only my master's Dog that is coming towards us. ...What, going so soon?" she continues, as the Fox begins to turn away. "Will you not stop and congratulate the Dog on the reign of universal peace?" Cunning often outwits itself.
Jesus sees the irony of his own situation. Jesus calls Herod the Fox. Jesus is not resorting to name-calling; he is bringing us into this classic battle between predator and prey. He refers to himself as the Hen. Herod the Fox wants to have Jesus the Hen for a midnight snack...just as his disciples warn him that he wants to kill him. Jerusalem is like all chicken coops that have been invaded by a Fox. The Fox always wins. And the chicks are unwilling to shelter themselves in the shadow of her wings. And here we find the deep cynicism of Jesus' analogy—that for a while, it will look like the Fox has won the day. The Fox will appear to have won when Jesus is arrested and crucified high upon that deathly perch where he spreads his wings on a Roman Cross. But as Jesus says in his story that will unfold over the next weeks, “on the third day I finish my work.” Herod the Fox and Pontius Pilate will think the matter of Jesus the Hen settled when he is pronounced dead and buried. But that is not the end. That is where the hope of the story surpasses its cynicism.
Do you remember how Tom the cat would get his tail caught in the window just before he could swallow Jerry the mouse? Or Wile E Coyote, who would create an explosive ACME rocket and aim it at the Road Runner...and when he lit it, it would not fire off until he was carried off himself on an explosive journey? That is the punchline of the Hen who is caught in the teeth of the Fox—who is in the enemy's cross hairs—targeted by a cunning adversary—but on the third day Jesus has the victory. Jesus the Hen wins. Cunning often outwits itself. Jesus the Hen rises again from the dead.
But unlike the Hen in Aesop’s fable, the Hen has chicks. Jesus has come to shield his people underneath the wings of his protection. Jesus has the maternal instincts found even in the animal kingdom of a hen that would sacrifice herself for her helpless chicks. I watched several videos of hens protecting their chicks from danger. They're pretty hilarious. The hen clucks and squawks violently. She raises her wings to block the view of her chicks in a desperate attempt to preserve the lives of her little ones. The hen selflessly thrusts herself toward the danger. She appears to be driven mad by anyone who would threaten her young chicks. So Jesus appears to be driven insane by his Passion and love for his creatures. He goes directly into the mouth of the Fox in order to deliver us his little chicks.
Jesus says, "How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!" Jesus wants to put his arms around us and for us to hunker down underneath the shield of his strength. He wants to gather us. He wants to draw us in from every part of this world. His voice has gone out like a mother Hen to her chicks. He calls for us to come under the refuge of his wings. We can’t outsmart the Fox. We can’t resist Evil by our own strength. Like the Hen in Aesop’s Fable who appeals to a greater power—the Farmer and his Dog to drive out the Enemy. So we can only appeal to a greater Power—the Lord who heals body and soul—and overcomes the devil, the power of sin, and even death itself. Under the shadow of his wings, we are safe and secure.. His shelter assures us there is no condemnation—but forgiveness of all our sins. The call has gone out; the invitation is given. The willing find refuge and the assurance of his grace.
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