Homily for Thursday
25th Week of Ordinary Time

Sept. 25, 2025
Luke 9: 7-9
Christian Brothers, St. Joseph’s Residence, N.R.

“Herod the tetrarch … kept trying to see him” (Luke 9: 7, 9).

Christ before Herod
(John Valentine Haidt)

Only Luke gives us this little look at Herod, which he follows up in ch. 23 when Jesus appears in Herod’s court during his passion (vv. 6-12).

In Jesus Christ Superstar (which isn’t one of the gospels), Herod’s interest is played as a circus-like desire for entertainment.

[recite/chant selected stanzas]

https://www.songlyrics.com/andrew-lloyd-webber/herod-s-song-lyrics/

Jesus, of course, hasn’t been sent by the Father to entertain us, not even to provide us with physical or emotional security.  Herod, when his superficial wish isn’t met, chases Jesus away, in Rice and Lloyd Webber’s take:  “Get out of here … get out of my life!”

Certainly there are people who let Jesus into their lives on their own terms.  But not on his.  And send him on his way when he doesn’t meet their desires.

We know what Jesus’ terms are.  We know what reward, what ultimate security, comes to us when we come to Jesus seeking what he’s come from the Father to give us.  We prayed for that in the collect:  that we might keep the divine precepts of loving God and neighbor, and so “merit to attain eternal life.”