The Gospel for Thursday of the 25th week in Ordinary Time is taken from Luke 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. Luke is describing in this passage very clearly that there was an expectation of a Messiah. But it was nothing like the Messiah that came. It was a Messiah that would be just like the other prophets, only perhaps more wise and more knowledge coming back from the dead. But the most important thing for all of us is to recognize no one can really know who the Messiah is and how he works unless we open our heart to experience it. Please ponder these images in your heart and when the music ends, I will close with a prayer.

Foreign Father, we ask your grace in helping us to ponder the words of Scripture. They are filled with such wisdom and open us to so many new experiences. So don’t let us let the Messiah become an ordinary voice. It is God’s presence, not just a teaching, but a power that he shares. And we ask this in Jesus name. Amen.