The readings today speak of the one King who comes in the name of the Lord. That king is Jesus! We hear a foreword about this coming at Christmas in the alleluia verse: and the angels sang: Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.
Those on whom his favor rests are those fitted with the armor of God – those able to stand fast against the tactics of the Evil One – who will try to seduce God's people until the very last moment! God's armor is the gift of faith – faith in the word of God that is spoken in many and varied ways all day long – but most especially faith the produces the close relationship that we now can have with Christ Jesus the Lord, who is God's word and the Holy Spirit who is God's strength!
St. Paul tells the Ephesians and us to pray: pray at every opportunity in the Spirit to be watchful against the wiles of the enemy. And to pray that he Paul and all of the disciples of Christ will know what to say to combat evil, and what to do to eradicate it. At this political time of the year it is always advisable to pray a great deal about how our word, our voice can make a difference in bringing about God's will against the incessant activity of the Evil One.
In the gospel passage, Jesus makes a political statement: he calls Herod and the Roman government a fox – a very cunning and sly opponent – who disregard basic human rights – who thwart the will of their own gods and most certainly the One God in great style. Yet, Jesus does not stop his work of healing when told that Herod wants to kill him. There is work to be done and Jesus will not be deterred from his mission.
But what is more upsetting to Jesus even than the indignities of the Romans is the hard-heartedness and ignorance of his own people: the ones who refused to be gathered close to him for safety and redemption, the ones who killed their very own prophets who were trying their best to prepare the way for him, the Messiah! Jesus says in the passage: behold, your house shall be abandoned – speaking of the destruction of Jerusalem a few decades hence. But, then he tells them that he shall be victorious when the temple of his own body is destroyed in a few weeks time – which will have as its prelude a regal entry into Jerusalem amid shouts of: Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!
Blessed be the Lord, my rock – my mercy and my fortress, my stronghold, my deliverer, my shield in whom I trust!
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