DAILY HOMILIES #Herod

Practising God’s words is like planting a tree. The more you do what the word of God says, the more you become used to it. Your natural mode of thinking and acting aligns with God’s expectations. Hence, Jesus says, “A good man, out of the good treasure of his heart, produces good.” That treasure is a combination of good deeds which have been practised over a very long time. You cannot become a saint overnight. You cannot suddenly repent from sin; you must first erect a solid foundation through practice. The saying is true: “Practice (not words) makes perfect.”

Let us learn to practice self-control. Herod was not thinking straight when he promised even half his kingdom to a little girl. What if she had asked for his head? Think before you speak. Be a master of your emotions. In moments of anger, hold it. In moments of excitement, keep it also. Develop the habit of speaking to God and listening to Him before speaking. Avoid making promises. Remember, seeking God’s guidance in all our actions can bring us peace and clarity.

During the marriage feast, the King discovered there was one who came into the feast without a wedding garment. Not only was this man bound hand and foot, but he was also cast into the outer darkness, a place of weeping and gnashing of teeth. Just as no one forced Jephthah to make a vow, no one forced this man into the marriage feast. He came on his own. He was supposed to do just one thing: put on a wedding garment like all the others who were invited freely. But in the end, he got what he deserved.

Sex is reserved only for marriage because it is an act of total self-giving, and you can only give yourself to someone you are married to. Adultery is theft; it is like removing the engine from a car and still claiming to have a car. Faithfulness to one’s spouse attracts God’s blessings. The book of Proverbs teaches us: “Do not let loyalty and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. So, you will find favour and good repute in the sight of God and people.” (Proverbs 3:3-4).

Today is Palm Sunday, otherwise known as Passion Sunday. Unlike the usual liturgy where the priest alone reads the Gospel passage, we have not only listened but also taken part in reading the Passion narrative. We have been able to relive the experience of Jesus’ Last supper, His arrest in the garden of Gethsemane, His trial by Pilate and Herod, His scourging at the pillar and the harsh treatment of the soldiers, His sentencing and carrying of the cross, His crucifixion on the Cross alongside two criminals and His death on the cross.

Like Herod, who killed all the male children born at the time for fear of a rival king, the Chief priests and Pharisees were shaken with fear. Speaking prophetically as High Priest, Caiaphas noted: “It is expedient for one man to die than for a whole nation to perish.” Little did Caiaphas know that he had just summarised the mission of Jesus Christ on earth – “The Son of man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:28).

Trust in God. Do not be distracted by your poverty and lack. Do not worry about your empty stomach or your empty store. Seek God’s kingdom and righteousness first; God will provide abundant bread when needed. (Cf. Matthew 6:33). Let it not be that you participated in evil because you were hungry. God will be so disappointed. Trust that God will provide your needs; pursue righteousness. Dare to be different like Noah.

The Letter to the Hebrews mentions certain sins we could regret forever: unkindness to strangers, indifference to prisoners, defiling the marriage bed, love of money, and lack of contentment. As the book of Hebrews tells us, only when we avoid sin can we confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid; what can man do to me?”

Today’s feast is like a second Christmas, but slightly different. While we celebrated the birth of the baby Jesus on the 25th of December, we are celebrating today the realisation that God was born in human flesh. Today, we celebrate the fulfilment of the prophecy of Isaiah as contained in our first reading: “Nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.” (Isaiah 60:3).

Herod’s action casts a dark shadow on Christmas. It raises many questions about God's power in failing to protect these innocent children, but it also reflects our human nature. The book of Jeremiah says, “The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately corrupt; who can understand it?” (Jeremiah 17:9). Herod’s action shows the darkness of humanity in need of salvation. It explains what could have become of the world if God had not taken our flesh.

Today, St. Paul explains that as Christians, we do not wrestle against flesh and blood but against principalities and powers. We fight against that thief who “comes only to steal, to kill and to destroy.” (John 10:10). No matter how good we are, we have enemies who would hate us not for the good we do but because they have been won over by the thief – the deceiver whose only goal is to destroy.

There is nothing in this life worth killing another person for. Nothing. Today’s first reading is worth pondering to anyone involved in Yahoo Plus (ritual killing) and those considering it. What will you gain by taking another person’s life? Everything in this world is just a mere breath. You will get tired of everything one day. You may even become irritated with money. Meanwhile, you can never replace the life you have taken.