Thursday of the Twenty-fifth Week in Ordinary Time
Luke 9:7-9
Word of God unsettles us!

In today’s Gospel, Herod is perplexed by the news of Jesus and His disciples. Rumours spread—perhaps John the Baptist has risen, perhaps Elijah has returned, perhaps the great prophet foretold by Moses has appeared. Whatever the truth, one thing is clear: something powerful is happening. The mission of Jesus and His disciples is turning the world upside down.

At the heart of this mission is a union of preaching and healing. The disciples were sent not only to proclaim the Kingdom of God but also to heal the sick. This is essential: the Gospel is never just words—it is words that take flesh in concrete deeds. To preach the Good News while ignoring people’s hunger, pain, or wounds would be a contradiction.

We see in history how dangerous it is when Christians dismiss the material needs of others. To tell a hungry family that “things of this world don’t matter” is not only unhelpful—it is unfaithful to Christ. The Gospel must touch both heart and body. Discipleship is an adventure, and it requires trust. We are called to place our security not in things, but in God who provides.

Herod’s fear reveals another truth: the Word of God unsettles the conscience. The Gospel is not entertainment; it confronts, challenges, and calls us to conversion. Herod, haunted by the memory of John the Baptist, illustrates how sin fosters fear, while openness to God brings freedom.

Today, the Church must continue Jesus’ mission: to proclaim the Kingdom in word and in deed, to care for both souls and bodies, and to live simply and serve generously. This is what makes the Gospel real, credible, and transformative.

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Cum Approbatione Ecclesiastica 2025