Moment with the Gospel Series.
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Moment with the Gospel Series. |
Today as I was meditating on Luke 9:7-9,
I wondered about Herod.
Who is the Herod in Luke 9:7–9?
This is Herod Antipas, the son of
Herod the Great:
- Herod
the Great (the
father) was the king who ordered the massacre of the infants in Bethlehem
(Mt 2:16–18). He died in 4 BC, before Jesus’ public ministry.
- Herod
Antipas (the son)
ruled Galilee and Perea. He is the one in Luke 9:7–9 who hears about Jesus
and is puzzled — some say Jesus is John the Baptist raised from the dead,
others Elijah, others one of the prophets.
He is also the one who ordered the beheading of John the Baptist
(Lk 9:9; Mk 6:17–29). Later, during the Passion, Pilate sends Jesus to
this same Herod (Lk 23:7–12).
So in this passage, it is the son
(Herod Antipas), not the father.
Practical Reflection Questions for Today
Luke presents Herod as curious but
conflicted. He hears about Jesus, is intrigued, but does not truly seek Him
with an open heart. That tension offers us some very practical points for
reflection:
- Curiosity
vs. Commitment
- Am I simply curious about Jesus,
or am I committed to following Him?
- Where in my life do I settle for
“hearing about” Jesus rather than truly encountering Him?
- Fear
of Losing Control
- Like Herod, do I resist Jesus
because following Him might disrupt my comfort, power, or plans?
- What areas of my life am I afraid
to surrender to God’s authority?
- Voices
That Confuse
- Herod hears conflicting reports
about Jesus. In today’s world, what “voices” or influences confuse or
distract me from the truth of who Jesus is?
- How can I better listen to the
voice of Christ in Scripture, prayer, and the Church?
- Responding
to God’s Messengers
- Herod silenced John the Baptist
rather than heed his call to conversion. How do I react when challenged
by God’s Word or by someone who calls me to change?
- Do I silence or ignore those
calls, or do I allow them to lead me deeper into faith?
- Seeking
Jesus
- Herod “kept trying to see Jesus”
(Lk 9:9). What steps am I taking this week to truly see Jesus — in
prayer, in the Eucharist, in the poor, in my neighbour?
.
Herod Antipas remains stuck in
puzzlement. In Luke 23, when Jesus is brought to him, he is still curious
but shallow. He wanted to see a sign or miracle, almost like entertainment, but
when Jesus remains silent, Herod mocks Him and sends Him away.
It’s striking:
- He had heard
John the Baptist and was perplexed.
- He had heard
about Jesus and was perplexed.
- He even met
Jesus face to face during the Passion… and still walked away unchanged.
His story is a kind of warning.
Curiosity without openness, puzzlement without humility, never leads to faith.
He had every opportunity, but pride and fear kept him from seeing the truth.
A gentle reflection point for us today
might be:
- Where in
my own life am I “stuck in puzzlement” — circling around questions about
Jesus but not yet letting Him transform me?
- Am I
content to “hear about” Him, or am I willing to let Him speak into the
deepest part of my life, even if it unsettles me?
Herod was “anxious to see Jesus,” but for the
wrong reasons: he wanted spectacle, signs, something to satisfy his curiosity
or ease his conscience.
Reflection: When am I anxious to see
Jesus, and why?
- In
longing — Do I
feel an ache or impatience to see Him in prayer, the Eucharist, or
Scripture because my soul knows only He can satisfy?
- In
desperation — Do I
turn anxiously to Him in times of fear, pain, or uncertainty, and why? Is
my “anxiety” rooted in trust or in trying to control outcomes?
- In
joy — When I
anticipate His presence (in worship, in serving others, in quiet prayer),
is it like waiting for a dear friend at the door?
- In
distraction —
Sometimes my “anxiety” is more like restlessness — I want Him to do
something spectacular rather than simply be with me.
A practical prayer question could be:
- “Lord,
help me notice when I am anxious to see You. Purify that longing so that
it leads me to deeper trust and love, not just curiosity or self-comfort.”
Why did others think Jesus was someone
else?
In Luke 9:7–8, the crowd is saying Jesus
might be John the Baptist risen from the dead, Elijah, or one of the ancient
prophets come back to life. A few reasons help explain this:
- Prophetic
Patterns in Israel’s History
- People saw Jesus doing mighty
works (healing, raising the dead, feeding multitudes) and preaching with
authority. That reminded them of the prophets who had gone before —
Elijah, Elisha, Moses.
- They looked to the past to
interpret the present, because that was their frame of reference. They
didn’t yet see Him as the new thing God was doing.
- Messianic
Expectations
- Many Jews expected Elijah to
return before the Messiah (cf. Malachi 4:5). Seeing Jesus’ power, some
assumed He must be Elijah heralding the end times.
- Others thought perhaps God had
raised up an ancient prophet as a sign that His promises were near.
- The
Impact of John the Baptist
- John had stirred the whole nation
with his preaching and call to repentance. When Jesus came preaching in a
similar fiery way and performing miracles, it was natural for some to
connect Him with John — or even think He was John returned from the
grave.
- Partial
Understanding
- People recognized there was something
of God in Jesus, but they didn’t yet grasp His full identity. Their
guesses show both respect and confusion — they sensed holiness but
couldn’t yet see the Son of God clearly.
Reflection for Today
Sometimes we too can “mistake” Jesus —
not in His identity, but in what we expect of Him.
- Do I
expect Him mainly to be a miracle worker, problem solver, or teacher of
morals?
- Or do I
see Him as Lord, Savior, and Friend — someone who calls me to
relationship, not just admiration from afar?
Here’s a set of reflection questions
that tie together both parts of Luke 9:7–9 (the crowd’s puzzlement) and Luke
9:18–20 (Jesus’ direct question).
Reflection Questions: Who do you say
that I am?
1. The Crowd’s Perceptions
- Where do
I see myself in the crowd — hearing about Jesus but not fully recognizing
Him?
- Do I
sometimes reduce Jesus to just a prophet, healer, or teacher rather than
Lord and Savior?
- Whose
“voices” influence the way I see Jesus today (media, culture, friends,
even my own fears)?
2. Herod’s Puzzlement
- Like
Herod, am I sometimes curious about Jesus but reluctant to let Him change
my life?
- Where am
I still “puzzled” by Him — struggling to understand His ways or His
silence?
- Do I
seek Jesus out of entertainment, curiosity, or convenience… or out of love
and faith?
3. Peter’s Confession
- When
Jesus asks me personally, “Who do you say I am?”, what would my
honest answer be today?
- How has
my understanding of Jesus grown or changed over the years?
- Do I
truly let Him be the Christ (the Anointed One) in my daily life — guiding
decisions, shaping relationships, healing wounds?
4. Bringing it Home
- Where am
I anxious to see Jesus this week, and why?
- How can
I move from just “hearing about” Him to truly encountering Him in prayer,
Scripture, Eucharist, or service to others?
- What is
one small way I can live differently today because I believe He is more
than a prophet — He is Lord?
1. Recognition
The crowd recognizes something
extraordinary in Jesus — they don’t dismiss Him — but their recognition is
partial and misplaced (John the Baptist, Elijah, a prophet). It’s like seeing
the outline of the truth but not the whole picture.
- Reflection: Where do I recognize Jesus only in
part? Do I sometimes see Him as just a helper, comforter, or teacher — but
not yet fully as Lord of my life?
2. Identity
Jesus’ true identity is gradually
revealed: not just another prophet, but the Christ of God. Herod never grasped
this. Peter, with grace, begins to name it. But even Peter’s understanding was
incomplete until the Cross and Resurrection.
- Reflection: How do I grow in my awareness of
who Jesus really is? How is my own identity tied to His — as His disciple,
His beloved, His witness?
3. Acceptance
Recognizing Jesus’ identity is only the
first step. Acceptance means allowing His identity to reshape my own. Herod recognized
something but never accepted it. Peter recognized and began to accept —
though with stumbling. True discipleship comes in that acceptance, even when it
is costly.
- Reflection: What parts of Jesus’ identity am I
eager to accept (Healer, Friend, Shepherd)?
- What
parts do I resist (Lord, Judge, Suffering Servant)?
- How
willing am I to let His identity define who I am?
The Gospel isn’t only about who Jesus
is — it’s also about whether we are willing to accept Him for who He is
and let that change our identity.
Recognition, identity, and acceptance
aren’t only about how we see Jesus — they ripple out into how we see others,
and how we allow ourselves to be seen.
Recognition of Others
In Luke 9, people mis-recognized Jesus.
They saw something holy but couldn’t name Him rightly. In our communities, this
happens too: people may fail to see one another’s gifts, or may box someone
into an old image instead of recognizing the Spirit’s work in them.
- Question: Do I truly see and recognize the
unique gifts in those around me, even if they’re not what I expect?
Identity in Community
Jesus’ identity was not defined by the
crowd’s opinions — it was rooted in the Father’s love. Likewise, your identity
isn’t determined by whether parish members accept or overlook your
contributions. Your identity is beloved daughter, called and gifted by God.
- Question: Do I rest my identity more in
God’s gaze or in the shifting recognition of people?
Acceptance — Giving and Receiving
Sometimes in parish life or at work or
even in our own family, we long to be accepted for who we are and for what we
offer, but instead meet resistance or indifference. It is painful. Jesus too
experienced rejection from His own people. Yet He kept offering Himself.
- Question: How can I live acceptance in two
directions — accepting myself as God sees me, and accepting others even
when they struggle to see me rightly?
- The
Gospel challenges us to see who Jesus truly is.
- But it
also challenges us to see who others truly are in Him.
- And
finally, it invites us to accept ourselves as God sees us — even when
others fail to.
A
Prayer for Recognition, Identity, and Acceptance
Lord
Jesus,
You were misrecognized by the crowds,
and even those closest to You stumbled in knowing who You truly are.
Yet You never wavered in Your identity as the Beloved of the Father.
When
others overlook my gifts or fail to accept me,
remind me that my worth is not measured by their opinions
but by Your love.
Help
me to see myself through Your eyes:
called, chosen, gifted, and deeply loved.
Help me also to see others as You see them,
recognizing their gifts even when it is hard.
When
I feel unaccepted, let me rest secure in You.
When I feel unseen, remind me that You notice every detail of my heart.
And when I feel discouraged, lift me to keep offering my gifts anyway —
for Your glory, not for human approval.
Jesus,
my identity is in You.
Jesus, my gifts are from You.
Jesus, my acceptance is in You.
Amen.
Today as I was meditating on Luke 9:7-9,
I wondered about Herod.
Who is the Herod in Luke 9:7–9?
This is Herod Antipas, the son of
Herod the Great:
- Herod
the Great (the
father) was the king who ordered the massacre of the infants in Bethlehem
(Mt 2:16–18). He died in 4 BC, before Jesus’ public ministry.
- Herod
Antipas (the son)
ruled Galilee and Perea. He is the one in Luke 9:7–9 who hears about Jesus
and is puzzled — some say Jesus is John the Baptist raised from the dead,
others Elijah, others one of the prophets.
He is also the one who ordered the beheading of John the Baptist
(Lk 9:9; Mk 6:17–29). Later, during the Passion, Pilate sends Jesus to
this same Herod (Lk 23:7–12).
So in this passage, it is the son
(Herod Antipas), not the father.
Practical Reflection Questions for Today
Luke presents Herod as curious but
conflicted. He hears about Jesus, is intrigued, but does not truly seek Him
with an open heart. That tension offers us some very practical points for
reflection:
- Curiosity
vs. Commitment
- Am I simply curious about Jesus,
or am I committed to following Him?
- Where in my life do I settle for
“hearing about” Jesus rather than truly encountering Him?
- Fear
of Losing Control
- Like Herod, do I resist Jesus
because following Him might disrupt my comfort, power, or plans?
- What areas of my life am I afraid
to surrender to God’s authority?
- Voices
That Confuse
- Herod hears conflicting reports
about Jesus. In today’s world, what “voices” or influences confuse or
distract me from the truth of who Jesus is?
- How can I better listen to the
voice of Christ in Scripture, prayer, and the Church?
- Responding
to God’s Messengers
- Herod silenced John the Baptist
rather than heed his call to conversion. How do I react when challenged
by God’s Word or by someone who calls me to change?
- Do I silence or ignore those
calls, or do I allow them to lead me deeper into faith?
- Seeking
Jesus
- Herod “kept trying to see Jesus”
(Lk 9:9). What steps am I taking this week to truly see Jesus — in
prayer, in the Eucharist, in the poor, in my neighbour?
.
Herod Antipas remains stuck in
puzzlement. In Luke 23, when Jesus is brought to him, he is still curious
but shallow. He wanted to see a sign or miracle, almost like entertainment, but
when Jesus remains silent, Herod mocks Him and sends Him away.
It’s striking:
- He had heard
John the Baptist and was perplexed.
- He had heard
about Jesus and was perplexed.
- He even met
Jesus face to face during the Passion… and still walked away unchanged.
His story is a kind of warning.
Curiosity without openness, puzzlement without humility, never leads to faith.
He had every opportunity, but pride and fear kept him from seeing the truth.
A gentle reflection point for us today
might be:
- Where in
my own life am I “stuck in puzzlement” — circling around questions about
Jesus but not yet letting Him transform me?
- Am I
content to “hear about” Him, or am I willing to let Him speak into the
deepest part of my life, even if it unsettles me?
Herod was “anxious to see Jesus,” but for the
wrong reasons: he wanted spectacle, signs, something to satisfy his curiosity
or ease his conscience.
Reflection: When am I anxious to see
Jesus, and why?
- In
longing — Do I
feel an ache or impatience to see Him in prayer, the Eucharist, or
Scripture because my soul knows only He can satisfy?
- In
desperation — Do I
turn anxiously to Him in times of fear, pain, or uncertainty, and why? Is
my “anxiety” rooted in trust or in trying to control outcomes?
- In
joy — When I
anticipate His presence (in worship, in serving others, in quiet prayer),
is it like waiting for a dear friend at the door?
- In
distraction —
Sometimes my “anxiety” is more like restlessness — I want Him to do
something spectacular rather than simply be with me.
A practical prayer question could be:
- “Lord,
help me notice when I am anxious to see You. Purify that longing so that
it leads me to deeper trust and love, not just curiosity or self-comfort.”
Why did others think Jesus was someone
else?
In Luke 9:7–8, the crowd is saying Jesus
might be John the Baptist risen from the dead, Elijah, or one of the ancient
prophets come back to life. A few reasons help explain this:
- Prophetic
Patterns in Israel’s History
- People saw Jesus doing mighty
works (healing, raising the dead, feeding multitudes) and preaching with
authority. That reminded them of the prophets who had gone before —
Elijah, Elisha, Moses.
- They looked to the past to
interpret the present, because that was their frame of reference. They
didn’t yet see Him as the new thing God was doing.
- Messianic
Expectations
- Many Jews expected Elijah to
return before the Messiah (cf. Malachi 4:5). Seeing Jesus’ power, some
assumed He must be Elijah heralding the end times.
- Others thought perhaps God had
raised up an ancient prophet as a sign that His promises were near.
- The
Impact of John the Baptist
- John had stirred the whole nation
with his preaching and call to repentance. When Jesus came preaching in a
similar fiery way and performing miracles, it was natural for some to
connect Him with John — or even think He was John returned from the
grave.
- Partial
Understanding
- People recognized there was something
of God in Jesus, but they didn’t yet grasp His full identity. Their
guesses show both respect and confusion — they sensed holiness but
couldn’t yet see the Son of God clearly.
Reflection for Today
Sometimes we too can “mistake” Jesus —
not in His identity, but in what we expect of Him.
- Do I
expect Him mainly to be a miracle worker, problem solver, or teacher of
morals?
- Or do I
see Him as Lord, Savior, and Friend — someone who calls me to
relationship, not just admiration from afar?
Here’s a set of reflection questions
that tie together both parts of Luke 9:7–9 (the crowd’s puzzlement) and Luke
9:18–20 (Jesus’ direct question).
Reflection Questions: Who do you say
that I am?
1. The Crowd’s Perceptions
- Where do
I see myself in the crowd — hearing about Jesus but not fully recognizing
Him?
- Do I
sometimes reduce Jesus to just a prophet, healer, or teacher rather than
Lord and Savior?
- Whose
“voices” influence the way I see Jesus today (media, culture, friends,
even my own fears)?
2. Herod’s Puzzlement
- Like
Herod, am I sometimes curious about Jesus but reluctant to let Him change
my life?
- Where am
I still “puzzled” by Him — struggling to understand His ways or His
silence?
- Do I
seek Jesus out of entertainment, curiosity, or convenience… or out of love
and faith?
3. Peter’s Confession
- When
Jesus asks me personally, “Who do you say I am?”, what would my
honest answer be today?
- How has
my understanding of Jesus grown or changed over the years?
- Do I
truly let Him be the Christ (the Anointed One) in my daily life — guiding
decisions, shaping relationships, healing wounds?
4. Bringing it Home
- Where am
I anxious to see Jesus this week, and why?
- How can
I move from just “hearing about” Him to truly encountering Him in prayer,
Scripture, Eucharist, or service to others?
- What is
one small way I can live differently today because I believe He is more
than a prophet — He is Lord?
1. Recognition
The crowd recognizes something
extraordinary in Jesus — they don’t dismiss Him — but their recognition is
partial and misplaced (John the Baptist, Elijah, a prophet). It’s like seeing
the outline of the truth but not the whole picture.
- Reflection: Where do I recognize Jesus only in
part? Do I sometimes see Him as just a helper, comforter, or teacher — but
not yet fully as Lord of my life?
2. Identity
Jesus’ true identity is gradually
revealed: not just another prophet, but the Christ of God. Herod never grasped
this. Peter, with grace, begins to name it. But even Peter’s understanding was
incomplete until the Cross and Resurrection.
- Reflection: How do I grow in my awareness of
who Jesus really is? How is my own identity tied to His — as His disciple,
His beloved, His witness?
3. Acceptance
Recognizing Jesus’ identity is only the
first step. Acceptance means allowing His identity to reshape my own. Herod recognized
something but never accepted it. Peter recognized and began to accept —
though with stumbling. True discipleship comes in that acceptance, even when it
is costly.
- Reflection: What parts of Jesus’ identity am I
eager to accept (Healer, Friend, Shepherd)?
- What
parts do I resist (Lord, Judge, Suffering Servant)?
- How
willing am I to let His identity define who I am?
The Gospel isn’t only about who Jesus
is — it’s also about whether we are willing to accept Him for who He is
and let that change our identity.
Recognition, identity, and acceptance
aren’t only about how we see Jesus — they ripple out into how we see others,
and how we allow ourselves to be seen.
Recognition of Others
In Luke 9, people mis-recognized Jesus.
They saw something holy but couldn’t name Him rightly. In our communities, this
happens too: people may fail to see one another’s gifts, or may box someone
into an old image instead of recognizing the Spirit’s work in them.
- Question: Do I truly see and recognize the
unique gifts in those around me, even if they’re not what I expect?
Identity in Community
Jesus’ identity was not defined by the
crowd’s opinions — it was rooted in the Father’s love. Likewise, your identity
isn’t determined by whether parish members accept or overlook your
contributions. Your identity is beloved daughter, called and gifted by God.
- Question: Do I rest my identity more in
God’s gaze or in the shifting recognition of people?
Acceptance — Giving and Receiving
Sometimes in parish life or at work or
even in our own family, we long to be accepted for who we are and for what we
offer, but instead meet resistance or indifference. It is painful. Jesus too
experienced rejection from His own people. Yet He kept offering Himself.
- Question: How can I live acceptance in two
directions — accepting myself as God sees me, and accepting others even
when they struggle to see me rightly?
- The
Gospel challenges us to see who Jesus truly is.
- But it
also challenges us to see who others truly are in Him.
- And
finally, it invites us to accept ourselves as God sees us — even when
others fail to.
A
Prayer for Recognition, Identity, and Acceptance
Lord
Jesus,
You were misrecognized by the crowds,
and even those closest to You stumbled in knowing who You truly are.
Yet You never wavered in Your identity as the Beloved of the Father.
When
others overlook my gifts or fail to accept me,
remind me that my worth is not measured by their opinions
but by Your love.
Help
me to see myself through Your eyes:
called, chosen, gifted, and deeply loved.
Help me also to see others as You see them,
recognizing their gifts even when it is hard.
When
I feel unaccepted, let me rest secure in You.
When I feel unseen, remind me that You notice every detail of my heart.
And when I feel discouraged, lift me to keep offering my gifts anyway —
for Your glory, not for human approval.
Jesus,
my identity is in You.
Jesus, my gifts are from You.
Jesus, my acceptance is in You.
Amen.
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