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Gospel: Luke 9: 7-9
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”;
others were saying, “Elijah has appeared”;
still others, “One of the ancient prophets has arisen.”
But Herod said, “John I beheaded.
Who then is this about whom I hear such things?”
And he kept trying to see him.
The Gospel of the Lord.
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The fact that King Herod remains haunted by the death of John the Baptist is a sign that Jesus’ public ministry is working.
In the verses prior to this Gospel passage, Jesus gave his authority to the Twelve Apostles to cast out demons and to cure diseases of every kind.
Meaning, the Apostles are not only preaching about the kingdom of God; they are also performing miracles – a sign they’ve been given divine authority.
Thus, preaching and healing go hand in hand.
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This is one of the first lessons we derive from the ministry of the Apostles: our words must be supported by our actions.
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For example, I ran a bible study in a prison in Rome for three years. Week after week, I’d teach a handful of inmates about our faith.
One day, one of the inmates complained about being cold, so I gave him the hat off of my head. When one of the guards asked me why I’d do such a thing, I simply responded:
“How can you believe in God with a cold head?”
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Much like the Apostles who not only spoke about the kingdom of God, but also did something about it, our faith must always be supported by our actions. As Saint James tells us, “Faith without works is dead.” (James 2:14)
So, how will you put our faith into practice today?
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Image credits: (1) Cornerstone Community Church (2) Ticket Tailor (3) Daily Bread, Pastor Mike Anderson