Thursday – 25th Week in Ordinary Time

Gospel – Luke 9:7-9

Hide and Seek

Caesarea Maritima, along Mediterranean Sea

 

Growing up in the country and farmland of southern Maryland, playing hide and seek was more than just a game; it was a safari.  And I always enjoyed being the one who got to hide – so many places, so little time!  But I admit I didn’t really enjoy being the ‘seeker’.  I would be excited and energetic for a while.  But after looking in all the obvious places, I quickly got bored and tended to walk away from the game.  Given our present Tennessee home, I doubt I could ever be bored playing hide and seek these days!

Which brings us to today’s Gospel.  Herod keeps hearing all these stories about Jesus and he is perplexed!  Who is this guy?  John the Baptist reborn?  A prophet?  A miracle worker?  And so he decides to go looking for Him!

Which makes me wonder!  How much effort did he really put in to ‘seek’ Him out?  Herod has soldiers, servants, scouts and spies!  How much effort would it really take?  How difficult could it have been?  We know from the Gospels that Herod did meet Jesus just before being condemned to death.  But it was not through any effort on his part; Pilate sent Jesus to him!   And what about his reasoning?  Was Herod curious?  Worried?  Fearful?  Superstitious and perhaps jealous of Jesus’ popularity?   

And what about us?  Are we seeking Jesus?  Do we give up too easily in our search?  What is our motivation?  Are we just curious?  Fearful?  Are we looking for answers to life? Maybe we have doubts that we will ever find Him!   Do we realize that Jesus is not really hiding from us?  He is right here beside us, by our side.  In good times and in bad, He walks with us, comforts us, blesses us with His presence!

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