Daily Catholic Lectio
Thu, 24 Sep 2026
XXV Week in Ordinary Time
Eccl 1:2-11. Lk 9:7-9
Herod Was Perplexed
Today’s Gospel begins with the words: “Herod the tetrarch heard about all that was happening, and he was perplexed.”
In the New Testament, we encounter five rulers connected with the name Herod. First, Herod the Great, who sought to kill the child Jesus. Second, Herod Archelaus, who ruled Judea when the Holy Family returned from Egypt. Third, Herod Antipas, who killed John the Baptist. Fourth, Herod Philip, whose wife Herodias was taken by Herod Antipas. Fifth, Herod Agrippa, the grandson of Herod the Great, before whom Paul later appeared.
The Herod in today’s Gospel is Herod Antipas.
The people give Herod three different explanations about Jesus. Some say, “John has been raised from the dead.” Behind this was the belief that the spirit of a righteous person could rest upon another. In a similar way, the spirit associated with Elijah rests upon Elisha.
Others say that Jesus is Elijah. This reflects the expectation that Elijah would return. Still others say more generally that “one of the ancient prophets has arisen.” Herod then says, “John I beheaded; but who is this about whom I hear such things?”
These words have two meanings. On the one hand, Herod is acknowledging within himself the wrong that he has committed. He knows that he ordered the beheading of John. On the other hand, his words also sound like a warning directed towards Jesus. The same Herod will later seek to kill Jesus. At that time, Jesus will refer to him as “that fox” (cf. Lk 13:32).
Herod’s question, “Who then is this?” is important.
A little earlier, the disciples themselves had asked a similar question after Jesus calmed the wind and the waves: “Who then is this, that He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey Him?” (cf. Lk 8:25).
Therefore, “Who is this?” becomes a response to the mighty works of Jesus and also a starting point for faith.
At the end of today’s Gospel, Herod seeks an opportunity to see Jesus. Luke uses the Greek verb zēteō, which means to seek or search for something that one wants to find.
Eventually, Herod does get the opportunity to see Jesus. Pilate sends Jesus to him. The one Herod had been seeking finally stands before him.
Yet Herod does not receive Him.
If he keeps Jesus with himself, his political relationship with Pilate may be affected. So he sends Jesus back to Pilate. In the end, the two of them together lose the One who had come before them.
Herod hears about Jesus, becomes perplexed, and seeks an opportunity to see Him. These three actions are important: hearing, being perplexed, and seeking. The teachings and mighty works of Jesus become the subject of public conversation. They reach even the ears of the ruler. Jesus becomes a topic among ordinary people and among those in power.
People hold different views about Him. Some think He may be Elijah. Others think He may be one of the prophets. The question of Jesus’ identity begins to disturb people.
Herod’s confusion is also connected with his conscience. The memory of John’s death does not leave him. When he hears about Jesus, the past returns.
The beheading of John also reminds the reader of the death that is waiting for Jesus. The fate of the prophet points forward to the fate of Jesus.
Herod eventually receives the opportunity he had been looking for. He sees Jesus. But what he did to John, he also does, in another way, to Jesus. He hands Him over towards death.
In today’s first reading, we hear the beginning of the Book of Ecclesiastes. The Teacher says, “Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.” He looks at the repeated movements of creation and human life and speaks of the weariness that comes from repetition. Things happen again and again. But what we repeatedly do slowly becomes our identity.
Herod had already responded to truth with fear, calculation, and violence in the case of John. When Jesus stands before him, he repeats the same pattern.
That is the deeper warning for us. What we repeat becomes who we are. If we repeatedly avoid truth, avoidance becomes our character. If we repeatedly silence our conscience, our heart becomes less sensitive. If we repeatedly choose fear, fear begins to govern us.
But the opposite is also true. If we repeatedly listen, seek, pray, forgive, and respond to truth, these too become our identity. Herod heard. He was perplexed. He sought an opportunity. But seeing Jesus was not enough. The real question is what we do when the One we have been seeking finally stands before us.
Fr. Yesu Karunanidhi
Archdiocese of Madurai
A Yesni Prays Initiative
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