Herod is Anxious To See Jesus

September 23, 2021, Thursday 
MEMORIAL OF SAINT PIUS OF PIETRELCINA, PRIEST (White)
CYCLE B - YEAR I
Lectionary: 452

Reading I
Hg 1:1-8

On the first day of the sixth month in the second year of King Darius,
The word of the LORD came through the prophet Haggai
to the governor of Judah, Zerubbabel, son of Shealtiel,
and to the high priest Joshua, son of Jehozadak:
Thus says the LORD of hosts:  
This people says:
“The time has not yet come to rebuild the house of the LORD.”
(Then this word of the LORD came through Haggai, the prophet:)
Is it time for you to dwell in your own paneled houses,
while this house lies in ruins?
Now thus says the LORD of hosts:
Consider your ways!
You have sown much, but have brought in little;
you have eaten, but have not been satisfied;
You have drunk, but have not been exhilarated;
have clothed yourselves, but not been warmed;
And whoever earned wages
earned them for a bag with holes in it.
Thus says the LORD of hosts:
Consider your ways!
Go up into the hill country;
bring timber, and build the house
That I may take pleasure in it
and receive my glory, says the LORD.

Responsorial Psalm
149:1b-2, 3-4, 5-6a and 9b

R.    (see 4a) The Lord takes delight in his people.

Sing to the LORD a new song
    of praise in the assembly of the faithful.
Let Israel be glad in their maker,
    let the children of Zion rejoice in their king.

R.    The Lord takes delight in his people.

Let them praise his name in the festive dance,
    let them sing praise to him with timbrel and harp.
For the LORD loves his people,
    and he adorns the lowly with victory.

R.    The Lord takes delight in his people.

Let the faithful exult in glory;
    let them sing for joy upon their couches;
Let the high praises of God be in their throats.
    This is the glory of all his faithful. Alleluia.

R.    The Lord takes delight in his people.

Alleluia
Jn 14:6

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

I am the way and the truth and the life, says the Lord;
no one comes to the Father except through me.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

GOSPEL
Lk 9:7-9

Herod the tetrarch heard about all that was happening,
and he was greatly perplexed because 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.”
But Herod said, “John I beheaded.
Who then is this about whom I hear such things?”
And he kept trying to see him.

REFLECTION:

The Gospel today brings to light a very important point: to simply know about somebody is very different from actually knowing them personally. Through the gift of grace we can know Jesus, and our prayer is our communication with a friend, not with an acquaintance. If you are blessed in having some close friends you then understand the difference. Recall then the words of Jesus, “I do not call you servants any longer…I have called you friends” (John 15:15). You are never alone when you return his offer of friendship.

How do you react to Herod’s ‘perplexity’? Let it stimulate you to ask the fundamental question, ‘Who is Jesus for me?’

PRAYER:

Lord, may I recognize you in the moments of grace that come my way. May I be open to you, no matter under what disguise you come to me.