Thursday of the
Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time
(Romans 8:31b-39; Luke 13:31-35)
People today think of a fox as a wily creature. A foxy man does not reveal his
intentions. He takes advantage of
another, then slips way. In ancient Jewish
culture, however, a fox was more destructive than clever. Foxes were not to be trifled with. For this reason in today’s gospel the
Pharisees warn Jesus to get out of Dodge.
He goes but not because he is afraid.
Indeed, he continues his march to Jerusalem where he knows he will be
killed.
Jerusalem is where God meets humans. God speaks there through the prophets. Also, Jerusalem is the home of the temple. In it animal sacrifices are offered to God
for the forgiveness of sins. As multiple
the sacrifices were and even as devout as those offering the sacrifice may have
been, they could not achieve their purpose.
The New Testament testifies that only Jesus’ sacrificial death on the
cross achieved the forgiveness of sins.
Different words in today’s gospel conjure up
Halloween. There are foxes and chickens
that make interesting costumes. Jesus
speaks of demons and the entire reading holds the specter of death. More to the point, however, is that Halloween
means “All Hallows Eve,” the eve of All Saints.
The saints were made holy by the death of Jesus on the cross.
