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Join us as we reflect, ponder, and pray together inspired by today's Gospel.

Reflection by Colleen O'Dowd

Today's Gospel: Luke 9:7-9

 

Herod the tetrarch just cannot seem to look beyond himself or the rumors abounding that continue to incite wonder and awe about Jesus, John, and their followers. He can see only himself. He is the center.

But even as sinful as he is, he too was made in the image and likeness of God.

And it is in that creation, just like you and me, that he cannot resist the desire to try to see Jesus. To be close to Him. To encounter Him in some way.

The woman with the hemorrhage tries to see Jesus and approaches with faith – and Jesus sees her first and restores her to health.

Zacchaeus tries to see Jesus and approaches with curiosity – and Jesus sees him first and restores him to his community.

The man born blind tries to see Jesus and approaches with repentance – and Jesus sees him first and restores him to health, his family, and his community.

The scriptures record that Herod will continue making bad decision after bad decision when it comes to Jesus – and that’s because he hasn’t submitted to the will of God in his life. He is approaching Jesus with challenge. Suspicion. Doubt.

That’s why he will always be attracted to the person of Jesus – as we all desire to be close to Jesus – but will never really get to see Him. And thus will not be able to truly see God.

Jesus gets us to the Father. And God is doing a mighty work of reconciling, restoring, healing, and ransoming all of creation to Himself. Today is the Feast of Our Lady of Ransom – a title of Mary that honors her motherhood of Jesus, who ransoms us all from death unto life.

 

Ponder:


Am I a person who weighs down others or am I a person who ransoms others from their chains with justice and mercy and love?

 

Pray:


Lord Jesus, help me to be strong and courageous in the face of persecution and sin, both my own and that of others.


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Herod will always be attracted to the person of Jesus – as we all desire to be close to Jesus – but he will never really get to see Him.
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Copyright 2020 Colleen O'Dowd

Colleen O’Dowd is the Director of Lifelong Catechesis at Our Lady of Ransom in Niles, IL. She loves being Catholic, her Converse all-stars are always liturgically correct, and she is a super-saint-geek! She blogs ultra-occasionally at www.ourheartswereburningwithin.wordpress.com and can also be found @catholiccolleen on Twitter and Instagram.