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Lenten Lesson III -- The question of Herod
Is Herod in heaven?
Such was the question posed by the Rev. Gary Brethour, pastor at St. Patrick's Catholic Church, during his Lenten homily Friday afternoon at Memorial United Methodist Church.
It was, after all, this Herod, Herod Antipas, who had John the Baptist beheaded at the behest of his wife, Herodias, who was also his half-niece, and, somehow, in the convoluted family tree, also his half sister-in-law. Herodias was angered by John the Baptist's condemnation of Herod for having his uncle's wife and ultimately used her daughter to get the head of John the Baptist. (Matthew 14:3-11; Mark 6:17-28).
This Herod, one of three descended from Herod the Great who had ordered the murder of all boys two and under in Bethlehem around the time of Jesus' birth, was the one to whom Pilate sent Jesus as related in Luke 6:6-12.
"Herod was no candidate for Eagle Scout," Brethour allowed.
Herod, tetrarch of Galilee, had come to Jerusalem for the Passover. When Pilate learned that Jesus was a Galilean, he decided to rid himself of this Jewish problem by sending Jesus to Herod for questioning and judgement.
Brethour explained that Scripture shows that Herod asked Jesus a great many questions and hoped to see him perform some miracle. But Jesus stood silent before him.
"Certainly, if Jesus had done as Herod wanted and satisfied Herod's curiosity with a miracle, Herod would have proclaimed him innocent and set him free," Brethour said.
"Was it because Jesus knew Herod was dedicated to sin and depravity, and it would be fruitless to try to engage him in discussion?" Brethour wondered aloud.
Or, did Jesus want Herod to know salvation?
"Everything Jesus did was done with purpose," Brethour explained. "And it was the will of his Father that he had been placed in the hands of these wicked men, to accomplish salvation, not only ours but perhaps theirs as well."
Brethour continued, "Perhaps Jesus' silence that day worked with a purpose later in Herod's life." Herod's curiosity remained un-satisfied that day. He had to be satisfied instead by having Jesus clothed in royal robes, and mocking him. Brethour proposed that perhaps later in life, Herod sought out the Lord through his Apostles.. "This is pure speculation," Brethour allowed, but wouldn't it be something if "Herod one day learned what we all must learn. To love the Creator rather than the created."
This, Brethour expounded, is the purpose behind the Lenten season with its focus on prayer, fasting and alms giving. It serves to pull us back from the world, and all of its creature comforts and pleasures, so that we too can learn to love the Creator rather than creation itself.
"We learn to trust the Lord during the Lenten season," Brethour reasoned.
Herod faced many difficult trials in the years that followed his encounter with Jesus, Brethour explained. Ultimately, he was stripped of his power and his wealth and was banished. His wife, Herodias chose to go with him into exile.
"Was he deposed and banished so that God could separate him from his world (of women, riches and power) so that he could learn to love God and find salvation in him?" Brethour asked, adding "May we allow our trials in life to teach us to love the Creator rather than the creation with all of its pleasures.
"Herod wanted to meet Christ. May we meet him during this time of prayer, fasting and alms giving, and also learn to love him."
This, the third in a series of seven Community Lenten services, was attended by 163 people. The women of St. Patrick's Catholic Church served a light lunch immediately following the lesson.
The Rev. Dr. Jeff Thurman served as the worship leader and Evie Caldwell was the organist.
The Rev. John Strecker-Baseler of Our Savior's Lutheran Church offered a stirring a cappella rendition of "Crown Him with Many Crowns."
The series "People on the Periphery" continues Friday, 12:05 p.m., with the Rev. Jon Albrecht of McCook Harvest Church speaking on "Pilate."
A free will offering is accepted in the sanctuary for the work of the Red Willow County Ministerial Association, the sponsoring body for the Lenten series, and a free will offering is accepted in the Fellowship Hall to help defray the cost of the meal.