Thursday of the Twenty-fifth Week in Ordinary Time
Herod was still curious about Jesus and kept trying to see him. God was knocking at his door again, but he does not see Jesus until he was brought before him for trial. He was hoping to finally witness one of his miracles. However, in this moment Jesus says nothing in response to Herod's questions. Herod has his troops mock Jesus and then sends him back to Pilate. He ultimately rejects God’s offering of grace.
In today’s first reading from Eccelesiates we read, “What has been, that will be; what has been done, that will be done. Nothing is new under the sun. Even the thing of which we say, “See, this is new!” has already existed in the ages that preceded us. There is no remembrance of the men of old; nor of those to come will there be any remembrance among those who come after them.” The notoriety and legacy Herod spent his life seeking, faded with his death. But Jesus’ death is not the end of the story—he won for us a kingdom that has no end.
As we spend time today in prayer, let us reflect on what barriers we have put up in our lives that cause us to turn away from God. Let us allow God’s grace to help us let go of the things that tie us down in our lives. May we find joy and peace in the freedom that comes from living in the humility of Christ.
-Jessica Gabrielli