25 September 2025 – Thursday of the 25th week
HOMILY
Herod Antipas, like his father Herod the Great who had the children of Bethlehem put to death at the time of Jesus' birth, is a troubled, anxious man. He is king – or tetrarch – of Galilee, but a puppet king whose power is in reality very fragile since the country is under Roman control. He is very attached to his prerogatives, but always torn by insecurity, always fearing that a true ‘king of the Jews’ will come and dethrone him. He is weak, and would not have wanted to behead John, but he did so in order not to lose face after making a foolish promise to the daughter of his illegitimate wife. Similarly, he became Pilate's accomplice in the death of Jesus, out of fear of the Romans, even though he felt a certain fascination for Jesus. He wants to see Him, but out of simple curiosity.
‘John, I had him beheaded,’ he said. There were already two radically different types of men present. Opposite Herod, who was always torn by fear because he was attached to everything he possessed – or believed he possessed, or wanted to possess – John was the figure of a free man, totally free, who lived only for his mission as a precursor, who withdrew when the Messiah appeared and even sent his own disciples to Him. Because he is free, John is fearless and can therefore openly reproach Herod for his sin, even if it means risking his life. In reality, he is free because, being attached to nothing, he has nothing to lose.
And if Jesus fascinates Herod so much, who always wants to see Him, both at this moment and at the time of His trial, it is because Jesus embodies the total freedom that Herod so sorely lacks.
Very often in the Gospel, especially in the appearances after the Resurrection, Jesus says, ‘Do not be afraid, do not be afraid.’ Fear is not appropriate for the believer. And when there is fear in us, it is because, like Herod, we are attached to something we do not want to lose or let go of. It may be a material object, but more often than not it is attachment to the image we have or want to project of ourselves, or all the little bits of power we have over others and over our own destiny.
Let us ask God to help us let go, to attain that poverty and purity of heart that makes us totally free and delivers us from all the fears we may have, whether of God, of our brothers and sisters, or simply of life itself.