I wish I could ask Herod a few questions: "Weren't you happy to talk to Jesus? Didn't you want to see him perform a miracle before your very eyes? Didn't you ask him many questions? Do you have any idea why the Holy Righteous One and the Lord of Lords did not even answer you a single word?
"Why didn't he perform a miracle for you? Wasn't it because he did not seek any glory for himself? In fact, it was he who said, 'If I glorify myself, my glory means nothing. My Father . . . is the one who glorifies me.' (John 8:54) (RSV)
"Why did you listen to the counsel of the chief priests when they had accused Jesus, despised him, and put a splendid robe on him? Did you not know that at that very instant you had brought destruction on yourself? You had also reconciled with your enemy Pontius Pilate for this reason. Furthermore, you took sides with your enemy and conspired against the Righteous One, who came to reconcile you with the Father, the Judge, the owner of heaven and earth! Oh, Herod, how you sinned!
"Your friend Pontius Pilate also made a mistake. He knew in his heart of hearts that Jesus was righteous and committed no sin. He even declared out loud, 'I find no guilt in him' (John 19:4) (NAS). He was so concerned about his own status and position that he gave Jesus into the hands of those who were seeking his life."
Do we sometimes act like Herod or Pilate? Do we follow him for the miracles? Do we put our own interests first, worrying mostly about our own advancement?
May we come to Jesus today, not for what he can give us but just to experience his goodness, to be with him.
- 17 APRIL -