Catholic Homily for October 30, 2025
When Everyone Wants to Control Your Schedule But God
Thursday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time
Luke 13:31–35
Some Pharisees came to Jesus with urgent news: “Leave this place and go somewhere else. Herod wants to kill you.”
On the surface, this sounds like helpful advice from concerned religious leaders. But Jesus saw right through it.
His response was bold and unforgettable: “Go tell that fox, ‘I will keep on driving out demons and healing people today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will reach my goal.'”
Jesus just called the most powerful political leader in the region a “fox” – and not in a nice way.
“Threats Do Not Set My Calendar – The Father Does”
When Jesus called Herod a fox, He meant the ruler was cunning, deceptive, and manipulative but ultimately weak. Herod thought he could control Jesus through intimidation. Jesus essentially said, “That coward doesn’t set my schedule – God does.”
Jesus’ response reveals something crucial about living with purpose in a chaotic world. He had a clear mission: “Today and tomorrow I cast out demons and heal; on the third day I finish my course.”
Jesus knew exactly what He was supposed to do:
- Today: Keep healing people and casting out demons
- Tomorrow: Continue the same work
- The third day: Complete His mission (the cross)
Political threats didn’t change His plans. Religious opposition didn’t make Him speed up or slow down. Fear tactics didn’t make Him change course. Even knowing Jerusalem meant suffering and death, Jesus kept walking toward it because that’s where the Father was leading Him.
This is what it looks like to live with divine purpose instead of human pressure.
The Most Heartbreaking Words Jesus Ever Spoke
After showing strength against political threats, Jesus reveals His tender heart:
“Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing!”
This is one of the most tender pictures Jesus ever painted of Himself. A mother hen spreads her wings to cover her chicks from danger, keeps them warm and safe, and will die defending them from predators.
Jesus wanted to protect Jerusalem like a mother hen protects her babies. But they refused His protection.
“You were not willing” – these might be the saddest words in the Bible. Jesus doesn’t force anyone to accept His protection. He invites but doesn’t compel. He offers shelter but doesn’t drag people under His wings. The heartbreak in Jesus’ voice is the heartbreak of love that’s rejected.
Where Courage and Tenderness Meet
This passage shows us Jesus is both strong and gentle – strong enough to call out powerful politicians, gentle enough to weep over people who reject Him. He had purpose without hardness and mercy without compromise.
Jesus offered protection even to people trying to hurt Him. He maintained His standards while extending grace. He spoke truth while showing love.
This is what mature Christianity looks like – courage and tenderness working together.
The Foxes in Our Lives
We all face “foxes” – people and pressures that try to divert us from God’s will:
Political foxes: Leaders who try to intimidate us into silence about our faith, social pressure to compromise our values, fear of being rejected for standing up for truth.
Personal foxes: Family members who pressure us to abandon our convictions, friends who mock our faith, employers who ask us to violate our conscience.
Internal foxes: Fear of what people will think, desire for approval, temptation to take shortcuts, laziness that makes us avoid doing what’s right.
Distraction is the fox. It’s clever, persistent, and destructive.
The Danger of Refusal
Just like Jerusalem refused Jesus’ protection, we can refuse it too. We say “we were not willing” when we think we don’t need God’s help, when we’re not ready to change our lifestyle, when following Jesus seems too restrictive, or when we decide to deal with spiritual things later.
The consequences are serious: We face life’s storms without protection, miss the peace that comes from being under His wings, experience loneliness from rejecting love, and remain vulnerable to spiritual attacks.
Jesus still longs to gather us under His wings, but He won’t force us.
October 30, 2025: Three Faithful Answers to Pressure and Distraction
1. Hold Your Course – Do Today’s Duty for God, Not for Approval
Like Jesus, don’t let external pressure change your God-given priorities. In your work, do excellent work because you’re serving God, not just pleasing your boss. Maintain integrity even when inconvenient. In your family, love your family members even when they don’t appreciate it. In your faith, attend church and pray regularly regardless of how you feel.
Ask yourself: Am I doing this because God wants me to, or because people will approve?
2. Run to His Shelter – Pray Under His Wings When Fear Rises
When you feel threatened or overwhelmed, remember Jesus as the Mother Hen who wants to protect you from spiritual dangers and provide comfort when life gets stormy. Actually take shelter in prayer instead of trying to handle everything alone. Trust His timing like Jesus walked toward Jerusalem on God’s schedule.
3. Speak Blessing – Welcome Christ in the Next Person You Meet
Jesus quotes Psalm 118: “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” Look for Jesus in others – welcome the stranger, serve the difficult person, bless those who oppose you. Instead of complaining about people, pray for them. Instead of criticism, offer encouragement. Be someone others can welcome by coming in the name of the Lord yourself.
Purpose Without Hardness, Mercy Without Compromise
Jesus shows us how to live with both strength and gentleness. Have clear priorities but keep a soft heart. Stand firm but stay tender. Walk your path but welcome others.
Jesus was walking toward Jerusalem – toward His cross, toward His mission, toward the Father’s will. He invites us to walk with Him on the road of obedience even when it’s difficult, on the path of love even when it’s not returned, toward the purposes God has for us even when we don’t fully understand them.
The choice is simple but not easy: Will you let the foxes set your schedule, or will you let God direct your steps? Jesus is still calling you to come under His wings. He’s still walking toward the Father’s purposes. He’s still inviting you to join Him on the road. The question is: Are you willing?
A Prayer for Those Facing Pressure and Distraction
Jesus, You faced political threats and religious opposition, but You never let them control Your schedule or change Your mission. Help me learn from Your example. When the “foxes” in my life try to distract me from Your will, help me stay focused on what You’ve called me to do. When I’m tempted to seek approval from people instead of obedience to You, remind me that You are my true authority. Thank You for wanting to gather me under Your wings like a mother hen protects her chicks.
Help me not be “unwilling” to accept Your protection and love. Give me courage without hardness, and mercy without compromise. Help me walk with You on the road to Your purposes, trusting Your timing and Your heart. Let me be a blessing to others and welcome You in every person I meet today. Amen.
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