25th Week in Ord. Time, Thursday – 23rd September 2021 — Gospel: Lk 9,7-9
Understanding Mystery
King Herod, through his inquisitive question, tries to see and figure out who Jesus is. Speaking of Jesus, 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.” These responses express Herod’s confusion about who Jesus is and his purpose to focus upon the person of Jesus. Jesus will always remain a mystery to those who try to understand him without faith. Similar to Herod’s friends, numerous authors have often tried to describe Jesus according to their own criteria, saying Jesus is merely a moral teacher, an activist, or a rebel. Even rationalism, superstition, and popular opinion will always fall short. However, in the forward to his book, Jesus of Nazareth, Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI wrote that such an approach reveals more about the worldview of the author than about Jesus. To begin to understand Jesus, we must humbly approach him in all of his mystery, as the incarnate Son of God. Herod’s question, “who then is this Person about whom I have heard?” is the question which is answered in the rest of Luke’s gospel. The inquiring person needs to study closely in order to establish a personal relationship with Jesus.
