Curiosity Is Not the Same as Conversion

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

In today’s Gospel, Herod hears about Jesus and becomes curious. He has heard the stories. People are talking. Some say John the Baptist has been raised from the dead, others say Elijah has appeared, others say one of the ancient prophets has returned. Herod is confused, even disturbed, and he says, “Who then is this about whom I hear such things?” And the Gospel ends with a striking line: “He kept trying to see him.” That sounds good at first. Herod wants to see Jesus. But there is a difference between wanting to see Jesus and wanting to follow Jesus. That may be the challenge for us today: curiosity is not the same as conversion.

Herod was interested in Jesus, but he was not ready to change his life because of Jesus. He wanted answers, but not necessarily repentance. He wanted to see something extraordinary, but not surrender anything. And we can fall into the same trap. We can know about Jesus, listen to homilies, watch religious videos, read spiritual books, even come to Mass regularly, and still keep Jesus at a safe distance. We can be interested in Him without allowing Him to touch the parts of our life that actually need changing. Sometimes we want Jesus to impress us, comfort us, solve something for us – but we do not always want Him to confront us.

There is something even more serious here. Herod had already heard the truth through John the Baptist. John challenged him, and instead of listening, Herod silenced him. Now Jesus appears, and Herod is curious again. That is frightening, because it reminds us that God can speak to us many times, but we can become very skilled at postponing our response. We say, “Later I will forgive. Later I will confess. Later I will pray seriously. Later I will deal with this habit. Later I will change.” But every time God touches our conscience, there is an invitation in that moment. The danger is not that God stops speaking. The danger is that we become used to hearing Him without responding.

Maybe that is the question this Gospel puts before us: What am I doing with what I already know? Because most of us probably do not need another hundred answers before we can take the next step with God. We already know some of the things He is asking of us. We know the apology we need to make. We know the habit we need to leave behind. We know the person we need to forgive. We know the prayer we keep avoiding. The question is not always, “Lord, show me more.” Sometimes the real prayer is, “Lord, give me the courage to act on what You have already shown me.”

Herod wanted to see Jesus. Eventually, he did. But when Jesus stood before him during the Passion, Herod treated Him as entertainment. He wanted a miracle, a spectacle, something interesting. Jesus gave him silence. Perhaps because Jesus is not something to observe from a distance. He is Someone to follow. So today, maybe we can ask ourselves very simply: Am I merely interested in Jesus, or am I willing to let Him change me? Faith begins when curiosity becomes commitment, when listening becomes obedience, and when wanting to “see” Jesus becomes the decision to follow Him.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, do not let me be satisfied with simply knowing about You. Give me a heart that is willing to listen, to respond, and to change. Show me where I have delayed, avoided, or kept You at a distance. Give me the courage to follow You – not only with interest, but with my whole life. Amen.

– Homily by Rev. Fr. Patrick Agbeko