Kahu's Manao

Second Sunday in Lent
Sunday, February 28, 2010

The Rev. Kealahou C. Alika

“Strong and Tender”
Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18 & Luke 13:31-35

The siren in Wailuku sounded around 6:00 a.m. yesterday. I got up and turned on the television for the morning news and learned very quickly that an 8.8 earthquake in Chile had generated a tsunami that was due to reach our islands around 11:00 a.m.

There were already two voice mails on my cell phone letting me know what had happened and before the warning was cancelled by the Pacific Tsunami Center around 2:00 p.m., I made my own share of calls. As the light of day began to fill the sky, I realized that I had less than a half tank of gas in my car.

I drove three blocks before I found myself caught in traffic that was headed in the same direction. It took me 45 minutes to drive the remaining two blocks to get to the pumps.

When I returned home all of the television and radio stations were letting us know that roads were being closed and that everyone was asked to stay off the roadways. Although it was difficult to think about anything else I did manage to get some work done.

I knew when the first wave was estimated to make landfall in Hilo on the east coast of Hawai‘i island. So as the hour approached I grew more and more anxious. As I watched the live report out of Hilo I was reminded of what I had seen when I was growing up in Kona.

Those reporting the news wondered if any of us would be disappointed if nothing serious occurred; if it turned out that the evacuation was not necessary. For those of us who experienced the destructive force of tsunamis and hurricanes, “dodging the bullet” is just fine or as many were saying, “Better safe than sorry.”

We were spared the devastating consequences of a major tsunami but there are those in Chile who were not spared the trauma of an earthquake 500 times more powerful than the earthquake that struck Haiti several weeks ago. We were able to breathe a sigh of relief, but there are those in other parts of the United States who are digging their way out of damage caused rain, snow and wind storms.

We are fortunate to have the technology for a system that can alert us to the dangers of tsunamis and hurricanes. The warning system provides us with time to prepare ourselves to get out of harm’s way – time that could make the difference between life and death.

Long, long ago Jesus was warned to get out of harm’s way. The Pharisees or lay religious leaders come to him to warn him of a threat from Herod. Almost always antagonistic to Jesus, in our reading today the Pharisees come to Jesus presenting themselves as companions concerned for his well-being.

We can only guess at what may have been going through Jesus’ mind when the Pharisees approached him. He responds to what is essentially an outwardly friendly warning by saying to them, “Go and tell that fox for me . . . ” (Luke 13:32)

In doing so, we become aware that Jesus is not politically naïve. He is aware that the kingdom he proclaims and makes real by “casting out demons and performing cures today and tomorrow” (Luke 13:32) especially among the poor and neglected is an affront to Herod and others in positions of political and religious power.

That Herod Antipas is threatening to kill Jesus is not a surprise. This is the same man who killed John the Baptizer. Jesus calls Herod a “fox” implying that he is both destructive and sly or clever.

In spite of the danger, Jesus will not abandon his ministry of proclaiming God’s healing presence in the world. Nor does he abandon his journey to Jerusalem knowing that he must fulfill his mission, a mission that will end in his death. He insists, “I must be on my way” to Jerusalem. (Luke 13:33)

Having been forewarned, Jesus recognizes himself to be the one whom God has chosen to fulfill the promise in scripture. He will not defer to any earthly powers as he sets out for Jerusalem.

It may be hard for some of us to accept that Jesus would deliberately put himself in harm’s way. The Pharisees demonstrating their authority warn him.

Here at home the authorities at the Pacific Tsunami Center sound the warning and the sirens go off. Watching Jesus turn and walk to Jerusalem reminded me of the man who was seen crossing Ala Moana Boulevard walking toward the ocean only moments before the first wave was expected to reach O‘ahu. Some may argue that both had a “death wish” and if that were the case the cynic in us would say they both deserved the fate which awaited them.

It is true that both Jesus and the man are warned of the dangers ahead. But each ventured forth for a different purpose. For the man walking toward the ocean we can only imagine that his curiosity had gotten the better of him. Having said that it would not be hard for any of us to conclude that he was basically a fool.

For Jesus walking to Jerusalem, we know it will be in that city that the promise of following God’s way will be realized. To say his death is for a higher purpose would be a cosmic understatement.

At the time Jerusalem was the political and religious center of Jewish life and it was in Jerusalem that Jesus speaks a strong and tender word even as he makes reference to “the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it.” (Luke 13:34-35)

Jesus’ description of a hen longing to gather her young under her wings is both tender and strong. Modern slang refers to a chicken as one who runs away from danger. Jesus offers us a new image of maternal strength – a mother sheltering and warming her young beneath her wings.

In the same way that Jesus will not reject Jerusalem, so it is that God will not reject us. In a sense we are all on a journey to Jerusalem. There will come a time when each of us will die. We all know that. The challenge we all face on our journey is not how we will die but how we live.

We may wonder if we will ever be able to overcome the temptations, troubles, trials and tests that come our way. But we know whatever may come our way, we can cry out to God and trust in God’s strong and tender care for us. We can find shelter and that assurance will enable us to offer our care and shelter to others.

Mahalo ke Akua. Amen.

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