The Fox and the Hen

 Samuel grew up in the Temple and when God talked to him, what was the first thing Samuel had to do? 

He had to tell Eli that his sons were corrupt and they were going to die. 

After Samuel anointed King Saul to be the first king of Israel, what did he have to do?

He had to tell Saul that he would no longer be king.

When King David slept with Bathsheba and had her husband Uriah killed, who was called to set him straight? 

The prophet Nathan was called to share a story about a man and his lamb. 

When the Assyrian army was coming after Judah, what did the prophet Isaiah preach to King Hezekiah, what did the king and the people do?

They repented to escape destruction. 

When John the Baptist called out King Herod because he married his brother's wife and called out other corruption, what did King Herod do to him?

Jailed and then beheaded him. 

And when Jesus began his ministry what did he preach to his hometown? 

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me to bring good news to the poor, proclaim release to the captives, recovery of sight to the blind, free the oppressed, and proclaim the year of the Lord's favor. 

And in today's scripture when Jesus is told about King Herod wanting to kill him, what does Jesus reply?

"You tell that fox that I will go and be about my business."

Many of us are anxious, upset, and even angry about what is happening in our country and in our world, as well we should. But, however to call out these injustices is not preaching politics in the traditional way of Red and Blue. We are not talking about policies, but there are life and death decisions being made, for us as Americans, for Ukrainians, for people in Africa, and for the people of Palestine. There is rampant  corruption happening, and the future of our country is on the precipice. There are principalities and powers of hate, fear, racism, sexism, homophobia, and white christian nationalism running rampart, and there are bad actors who are pushing those forward in our government and our country. And it wears the face of our president, President Donald J. Trump. Like a mother hen, we are called to do our best to protect the vulnerable, the young, and the innocent. 

No, I have not been called in the night or had a vision or words from God to be a prophet. However, we called to take up the cross and follow Christ, we are called to do justice first and foremost of all. We are called to resist the powers of evil in our baptisms and in our joining the body of Christ. 

The first story of the fig tree is interesting. How many have planted fruit trees? How long after you plant it does it take to bear fruit? Usually 3-5 years, yes? That is about the same for a fig tree. It takes time to grow and mature and be ready to bear fruit. The owner says he has been coming for three years looking for fruit, so it may be that the tree was planted maybe six years ago and the expectation that three years ago it should have been bearing fruit. Or, maybe the owner is a little ignorant of fig trees and expected it to produce fruit on the first year. Whatever the reason, the gardener replies that he should give it one more year and he will fertilize it and care for it and we will see what happens next year. 

Right now, our nation is not bearing much fruit, not anything good right now. The things that are growing good fruit like the EPA, Medicaid, Medicare, VA, Forestry, USAID, Department of Education, Consumer Protection Agency, and others are being pruned. What we need is good fertilizer to help us hold strong. Not the crap that is being sprayed all over of misinformation, disinformation, lies, and fear around our country, airways, and social media. We need rich, life-giving fertilizer that is centered in love with the nutrients that bear the good fruit of goodness, kindness, patience, faithfulness, and self-control, joy, and peace. 

Will justice, diversity, and equality be the fruits of our nation and the world or are we going back where rights and the greed of the few outweigh the needs of the many? We are in this fight and the outcome has not been decided. Each week, there will be an action item or two in our Fanning the Flame. Our Board of Directors has voted that third goal, for them and myself this year, is to be a noisy church and try get into some good trouble. There are many organizations and groups and passions in our community, county, and nation that give us ways to stand up and speak up. 

What did God do when Elijah ran away from Jerusalem and sat under a tree? 

God had the crows feed Elijah and told him to take a nap, just some rest. We are not called to be about this 24/7, we are to find a balance in our lives, nurture our own hearts and lives while we strive to love the world and our neighbor. 

We do not shirk our responsibility as citizens to fight the enemies of our nation, from outside and inside. We do not shirk our responsibility as Christians to do justice, to love mercy, and walk humbly with God. We love our neighbor, we do what we can to protect those who are vulnerable, and root ourselves in God's kingdom which seeks joy, hope, faith, and love. The kingdom where all come together to join as one. The kingdom that is here and now and eternal. Amen.