***
King Herod has made some horrible choices – the worst being his decision to behead John the Baptist, a decision he made while he was drunk.
But the Gospel tells us that even after John’s death, Herod “kept trying to see him.”
Even though he challenged him, Herod was intrigued by John.
***
This back and forth reveals Herod was a deeply conflicted man.
Part of him was rooted in his desire for power and self-survival. Yet another part of him questioned if there might be more to life than the throne.
Even the possibility of rising from the dead.
***
That to me is where so many people in our world are at.
They’re drawn to the visible things of this world – money, power, success – yet they’re intrigued by the idea of something more to life.
Our job is to be like John the Baptist – to teach them the truth even at great personal cost.
***
But, as Saint Francis of Assisi once said, “Preach always. When necessary use words.”
How, then, can we convert people around us – not through words, but by our actions?