Why Jesus called Herod as a Fox?

 Gospel Thoughts

30th Week : Thursday

GOSPEL Lk 13:31-35

First Reading - Eph 6:10-20

*Why Jesus called Herod as a Fox?*

*1) The real character of the Fox*

A Fox symbolizes mischief, opportunity, playfulness, agility, cleverness, wisdom, beauty, luck, curiosity, charm and physical and mental responsiveness. Aided by cunningness, it manifests its increased awareness in being able to see  deceptions.

fox is an unclean animal in the Israelite holiness codes. 

It is a kind of insult to Herod. This insult is because of the following issues 

A)  He build a grand new capital city named Tiberius, after the current emperer, only to discover that it was built on top of an old Jewish cemetery. No pious Jew ever entered it.

B) He divorced his wife to marry Herodius. She had been the wife of his half brother. It was not unheard of in those days to marry the ex-wife of one’s brother.

C) It was this Herod who killed John the Baptist for challenging him about his immoral ways.

D) He let his daughter dance in public, which was considered a shameful act. Moreover he got seduced by his own daughter.

No pious Jew would ever have let his daughter dance in front of strangers 

E) Herod Antipas was an unsavory and unscrupulous puppet ruler of the Romans

F)  Jesus  called him a fox rather than a lion, because He was a coward; he was cunning; he played with fire and with sin.

*2) With regard to Fox - no need of Fear*

Even though fox is a cunning animal and hypothetical in  its behavior no one gets frightened about the fox, because it can't attack human beings. 

By saying that Herod is a fox, it is clear that Jesus is not at all frightened about Herod. 

In fact Herod could do nothing to Jesus and he was unable to challenge Jesus at any time of His life. 

*3) As a fox Herod's plans were secret, but in Jesus' there is nothing secret*

No one knew what Herod would do next. There was always a suspense in his approach. This approach is very similar to that of Fox. Fox always keeps its plans in secret. 

But there wasn't any suspense in Jesus ministry. He was very clear when He wanted to communicate His message to Herod

*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.*

*4) Never to imitate the life style of a Fox*

If some one calls us Fox, it is not a compliment. It is an insult to our personality

One who is called *Fox* has major problem with his behavior and attitude. So one needs to introspect ones own life if some one calls as *Fox*

*Is there some elements in my life which resembles the nature of the Fox?*

*Do I behave like a Fox in certain situations?*

*God bless you and your family. Praying for you and your dear ones*

*Fr Maxim Dsouza*

*Jeppu Seminary*

*Mangalore*