Thursday in the 25th Week of Ordinary Time, September 28, 2023

Luke 9, 7-9

Herod the tetrarch heard about all that was happening, and he was greatly perplexed because some were saying, “John has been raised from the dead”; others were saying, “Elijah has appeared”; still others, “One of the ancient prophets has arisen.” But Herod said, “John I beheaded. Who then is this about whom I hear such things?” And he kept trying to see him.

“Herod the tetrarch heard about all that was happening.”  St. Luke properly styles Herod as a terrace and not as a king as St. Mark does in Mark 6, 14.  This was Herod Antipas the son of Herod the Great, so-called, who had tried to kill the Infant Jesus.  The territory of Herod the Great was divided by the Romans into four parts and Herod Antipas received one of these, hence “tetrarch”.  He ruled over Galilee during the life of Jesus and eventually got his wish to see Jesus when Pilate sent Jesus to him, Herod being in Jerusalem at that time for the Passover.  Herod heard about Jesus and his miracles through travelers, friends — and spies, for Galilee was a tinderbox ever ready to blow up into revolt.  He put down more than one uprising during his reign.  

“He was greatly perplexed.”  The Greek word translated here as “was perplexed” means “was in difficulty, doubt, or trouble”.  That is to say, he was confused and deeply disturbed by what he heard.  Added to this, those who gave him news about Jesus gave their opinions that “John has been raised from the dead”, or that “Elijah has appeared”, or, more vaguely, “One of the ancient prophets has arisen.”  Herod was not a religious man although he made a show of piety to the people.  However, people who are not religious are very often superstitious though they may strenuously deny it, and Herod was that.  It is interesting that none of the reports Herod received mentioned that he was from Nazareth.  Herod, who had killed John the Baptist, might have feared the latter’s ghost taking revenge in some way.  If he did not know Elijah the Prophet he could have found out easily and would have been daunted by his opposition to the kings of the time.  No one seems to have identified him to Herod as possibly the Messiah who would overthrow Roman rule and reestablish the Kingdom of Israel under the House of David.  Herod would have seen him as a distinct threat in that case.   As far Herod’s actual feelings, they seem similar to those which he had when he listened to John the Baptist when he had imprisoned him: “When he heard him, he was much perplexed; and yet he heard him gladly” (Mark 6, 20).  He heard the truth about the Kingdom of heaven and the punishment of hell and it made sense to him and he wondered what it be like to live righteously, but he would do nothing to begin to do this.  He would rather be deeply disturbed.  

“John I beheaded. Who then is this about whom I hear such things?” And he kept trying to see him.”  Herod had silenced one voice that warned him of the wrath to come, but another voice, a greater one, was now speaking.  St. Luke tells us that Herod “kept trying to see him” but it does not seem likely that Herod actually made a serious effort, for thousands of people came from all over the region to find him and did.  He could also have sent for him if he feared to leave his fortress stronghold.  The Lord, for his part, did not respect Herod and called him “that fox” (Luke 13, 32), a predator that attacked the defenseless.  

Finally, Herod did see him on the last day of the Lord’s life.  He wanted Jesus to perform miracles for him to see but the Lord remained silent and still in his presence, not deigning to speak to him.  Herod had his chance.  He could have asked him who he was, where he was from, and what he taught.  But Herod did not use the opportunity he had been given.  

People can look salvation in the face and mock it, as Herod did.  We must be aware of the growing hostility to our Faith and to belief in another world and pray for the conversion of those who hold such views.