A Homily for Thursday of the Twenty-fifth Week in Ordinary Time
Thursday, September 26, 2024
Prince of Peace Catholic Church – 8:00 Mass
Ecclesiastes 1:2-11; Psalm 90:3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 14 and 17BC; Luke 9:7-9
Herod the tetrarch, also known as Herod Antipas, ruled the Jews of Galilee for some forty-two years. He began his reign in 2 BC and continued to reign until he was exiled by the Roman Emperor in 37 AD. During his reign, he spent much time in Tiberias, one of the main cities on the western edge of the Sea of Galilee. Most of Jesus’ ministry took place within the region of Herod’s domain, all of Galilee, so Herod was very aware of the many stories about Jesus.
Today’s Gospel concludes by saying that Herod kept trying to see Jesus. Herod the tetrarch, also known as Herod Antipas, ruled the Jews of Galilee for some forty-two years. He began his reign in 2 BC and continued to reign until he was exiled by the Roman Emperor in 37 AD. Most of Jesus’ ministry took place within the region of Herod’s domain, all of Galilee, so Herod was very aware of the many stories about Jesus.
Try to imagine what would have happened if Herod would have traveled to where Jesus was preaching so as to listen to Him with an open heart. If he would have done that, and truly listened, Herod would have received one of the greatest gifts imaginable. He would have received the gift of faith and conversion and would have begun down the road toward eternal salvation.
But Herod was living an immoral life. He was known to be a cruel leader and also an unrepentant adulterer. He loved his power and was quite jealous of it. Herod most likely knew, at least in the back of his mind, that if he were to listen to Jesus, he would have to CHANGE. And he most likely didn’t want to change.
This presents us all with a powerful lesson. Each one of us can easily dismiss various communications and invitations from our Lord, because, deep down, we do not want to change. If we’re honest with ourselves, most of us who profess faith in Christ struggle with change. While we may be open to much of what God says, there are most likely things that we either knowingly or unknowingly do not listen to.
For example, we may attend Mass regularly, faithfully receive the sacraments, and say all the right things about our faith. We may be very learned in the faith and speak of having love for our brothers and sisters, yet our actions don’t always match our words, do they? While we may speak eloquently on matters of faith, hope and love, we may not have hearts that are fully open to receiving God’s word. We may prefer to continue doing certain things the way we’ve always done them, to continue thinking about things the way we’ve always thought about them, rather than to change.
We may prefer to stubbornly cling to the ways we have always done things, rather than to really listen to how God is asking us to change our thinking about certain things. Perhaps he sends someone into our lives who challenges those things we have always believed to be true. We can choose to either close our hearts at these times and stay obstinate in our beliefs, as Herod did, or we can really listen to what God may be speaking to us through those he sends to us.
We often find it difficult to accept things that others bring to our attention because we if we did we’d have to change in some way. Yet, the key to being able to hear everything that God wants to speak to us is to be disposed to completely changing in any and every way that God wants us to change. This requires humility and courage, because it’s hard to admit we are wrong.
Reflect, today, upon Herod. As you consider Herod’s obstinacy, use it as an examination of your own life. Where you see any small reflection of obstinacy, fear of change or a closed heart? Then seek to remedy that by turning to our Lord telling Him you are open to all He wishes to say and that you are ready and willing to change in any way He calls you to do so.
Do not fear the change our Lord wants of you. Embracing that change will land you on the quick and narrow road toward greater holiness of life.