09/24/2026
Reflections from today’s Gospel Reading:
Key verse: Luke 9:9
“But Herod said, ‘John I beheaded. Who then is this about whom I hear such things?’ And he kept trying to see him.”
In today’s Gospel, Herod hears about Jesus, and immediately he remembers John the Baptist—the man he had ordered to be beheaded.
I can imagine Herod becoming uncomfortable and afraid. His conscience was speaking to him. The very thing he thought he had gotten rid of was now coming back to haunt him.
There is a saying: “We create our own ghosts, and then our ghosts come back to haunt us.”
Herod teaches us three things: distraction, destruction, and intention.
First, distraction.
Herod became so focused on his power, position, and authority that he lost sight of what truly mattered.
And we can do the same. We can become so busy with money, success, work, relationships, status, and worldly things that we forget God.
The enemy loves to distract us—to keep our eyes from seeing God, our ears from hearing Him, and our hearts from loving Him.
Remember the words from the first reading: “Vanity of vanities! All is vanity.”
Everything we have in this world is temporary. Our power will pass. Our position will pass. Our possessions will pass. But God remains.
Second, destruction.
Distraction can eventually lead to destruction.
Herod could not escape his conscience. And sometimes, after we fall into sin, the enemy reminds us of our failures and tells us, “There is no hope for you.”
But don’t believe that lie.
We have all sinned, but our sins are never greater than God’s mercy.
When you fall, don’t run away from Jesus. Run toward Jesus.
And finally, intention.
The Gospel says Herod “kept trying to see Jesus.”
But why?
He wasn’t seeking Jesus with a repentant heart. He was concerned about himself, his power, and his position.
This reminds us that it is not enough to seek Jesus—we must ask ourselves why we are seeking Him.
Jeremiah tells us:
“When you seek me with all your heart, you will find me.”
So today, ask yourself:
What is distracting me from God?
What is keeping me from Him?
And am I truly seeking Jesus with all my heart?
If you want a fresh start, seek Him.
If you want to leave your old life behind, seek Him.
If you want to know Him more, love Him more, and serve Him more, seek Him with all your heart—and you will find Him.
Lord Jesus, remove every distraction that keeps me away from You. Give me a heart that truly seeks You. I want to know You more, love You more, and serve You more. Help me to choose You above everything else.
Jesus, I seek You.
Jesus, I need You.
Jesus, I choose You.
Amen.
