Reflection for September 22, Thursday of the Twenty-fifth Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 9:7-9

Gospel: Luke 9:7-9

Herod the tetrarch heard about all that was happening, and he was greatly perplexed because some were saying, “John has been raised from the dead”; others were saying, “Elijah has appeared”; still others, “One of the ancient prophets has arisen.” But Herod said, “John I beheaded. Who then is this about whom I hear such things?” And he kept trying to see him.

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Reflection:

How would you feel when you do something wrong, adulterous and immoral? You are perpetually bothered by our conscience. This disturbance in your mind would continue to bother you until such time that you reach a closure (Whatever that closure would be) on the wrong that you have done. 

Herod the tetrarch was very much bothered when news came to him about Jesus. Why? Because Herod thought that Jesus was John whom he ordered killed. King Herod was already being tortured by his conscience about the wrong that he did to John. This is perhaps the reason why Herod said, “John I beheaded. Who then is this about whom I hear such things?" (Luke 9:9) 

What is the cure so that we would not be bothered by our conscience and so that we would not lose sleep over something? Let us avoid wrongdoings in whatever forms and shapes let us strive to be clean before God and our fellowmen. This is the only cure available for us so that we could avoid being tortured by our conscience. – Marino J. Dasmarinas