25th Week OT (R)
Fr. Philip Neri Powell, OP
OLR, NOLA
Why
would the king who murdered John the Baptist be confused by Christ's
words and deeds? Why would he be curious about who and what Christ
is? Despite his horrible sins, or b/c of them,* Herod is
experiencing what all men and women feel – the desire to know and
love God. Each human person – from Adam and Eve to infants born
just this morning – is created with a longing for union with their
Creator. Given his life of sin, Herod experiences this longing as
confusion and curiosity. He is both attracted to and repulsed by
John's rebuke of his adultery. Now, he hears rumors about a man
preaching repentance, and salvation from sin and death. That part of
him created to long for union with God is provoked, and he has a
decision to make. Like each one of us, he has a choice: repent and
turn to Christ, or continue to live in confusion and mere curiosity.
For those of us given a supernatural faith at baptism, repentance and
turning to Christ is as natural as breathing. So, when you are
unsettled, stressed, exhausted, or despairing – turn again to
Christ. Repent and embrace your Savior. Or live with Herod, lost and
perplexed.
*Trying to say something too complex here. Decided to omit it.
__________________*Trying to say something too complex here. Decided to omit it.
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This so perfectly describes that new dark age we were discussing. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteAnd it is both so easy and so difficult to move beyond the confusion. . .
DeleteWe really are sheep. It feels better to be in the herd than to go where our shepherd calls us. Even if we follow the herd into the abyss.
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