25TH THURSDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - Gospel (Luke 9:7-9) - THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE

“Herod said, 'John I beheaded. Who then is this about whom I hear such things?'” (Lk 9:9)

FIRST READING - Hg 1:1-8

"Go up into the hill country; bring timber, and build the house that I may be pleased with it."

A reading from the Book of Haggai

¹ On the first day of the sixth month in the second year^[a] of Darius the king, the word of the Lord came through Haggai the prophet to the governor of Judah, Zerubbabel, son of Shealtiel, and to the high priest Joshua, son of Jehozadak: ² Thus says the Lord of hosts: This people has said: “Now is not the time to rebuild the house of the Lord.”

³ Then the word of the Lord came through Haggai the prophet: ⁴ Is it time for you to dwell in your paneled houses while this house lies in ruins?^[b]

⁵ Now thus says the Lord of hosts: Reflect on your experience!^[c]6 You have sown much, but have brought in little; you have eaten, but have not been satisfied; You have drunk, but have not become intoxicated; you have clothed yourselves, but have not been warmed; And the hired worker labors for a bag full of holes.

⁷ Thus says the Lord of hosts:

Reflect on your experience!⁸ Go up into the hill country; bring timber, and build the house that I may be pleased with it, and that I may be glorified, ^[d] says the Lord.

GOSPEL OF THE DAY - Lk 9:7-9

“John I beheaded. Who then is this about whom I hear such things?”

✠From the Gospel according to Luke

⁷ 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”; ⁸ others were saying, “Elijah has appeared”; still others, “One of the ancient prophets has arisen.” ⁹ But Herod said, “John I beheaded. Who then is this about whom I hear such things?” And he kept trying to see him.

25TH THURSDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - Gospel (Luke 9:7-9)

THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE

Dear People of God,

The Word of God today tells all humanity that the life of Jesus Christ on earth was a mystery, for He is both true God and true man.

God is the God of love. He gave up everything in Heaven to come down to earth as a human, to die and to be resurrected for the salvation of humankind. On the path of Jesus publicly preaching the Gospel, He continued the mission of John the Baptist, preaching and performing more miracles than John, to show people that power and strength come from God. He raised the dead to life, gave sight to the blind, hearing to the deaf, and strength to the lame to walk. The fame of Jesus spread throughout Judea and the whole region of Israel.

Because the news about Jesus had spread throughout all the nations of that time, it eventually reached the ears of King Herod, the king who was in power to rule the people. The king longed to meet Jesus, who had the talent and power to perform many miracles, simply because he was curious and inquired about the miracles that Jesus had performed.

Through the actions of King Herod, God wishes to convey to all people this message: seek God, seek the mystery of Jesus Christ who suffered, died, and rose again—not out of curiosity about the miracles He performed, but rather, come to listen to God's call to repentance, repent and abandon the path of sin and make peace with God, make peace with your brothers and sisters, that is the true miracle to which God invites everyone to. Live and practice the teachings of Jesus when he was on earth, do not be like King Herod, who sought to see Jesus Christ merely out of curiosity to see worldly miracles, yet did not practice and did not live out the message of love as Saint John preached.

Today's Word of God teaches everyone a lesson:

• We must fear God above all things and love our neighbors as ourselves.

• We must always avoid the occasion of sin so that our prayers and petitions will be heard by God.

-Do not live as King Herod did, a man who had no fear of God, who thought he had all the power over his people and country, so he could do whatever he wanted. Because in this world, only God is the sole king over all humanity.

• Always worship and fear the only king, that is God, who has all the power over our souls and bodies.

Whoever lives according to God's teachings, that person will be protected by God and granted eternal life in the Kingdom of Heaven in the future.

Thanks be to God. Amen.

19:00 September 25, 2025 - Prayer of Divine Mercy - The Way to Heaven