How many times have you heard that if God existed there would be no evil in the world. Let us take a look at that thought in light of today’s gospel and ask the simple question: If that statement were true, why did not God strike Herod dead? Herod was a vicious human being, an intensely ambitious, Machiavellian personality. It is of Herod that Augustus Caesar said that it would be better to be Herod’s pig than this son.
It is of Herod that Augustus Caesar said that it would be better to be Herod’s pig than this son.
Herod, had two of his sons assassinated to prevent them from succeeding him to the throne, a fate that apparently his pig did not suffer. His Son Herod Antipas took control of Galilee and was the vicious human being who mocked Jesus the day of His Crucifixion. He, by the way, was also not stricken dead.
One of the sources I checked pointed out that there is no historical documentation indicating that he actually murdered children to prevent anyone from taking his throne, but that this was well within his personality is without question. Yes, he was that vicious and very most likely did have children killed to prevent Jesus from being king.
Now notice something else? Jesus had to leave His Jewish homeland in order to survive Herod. So, again we ask: Why did God not just kill Herod or even prevent him from coming into power in order to protect His own Son.
This is an important question that we need to understand when we encounter evil in the world. First, notice something, God does not strike Herod dead, so he really does not show himself to be in the striking dead business. He can be and at times is, but that is not his preferred modus operandi. However, notice something else, we can see in Luke that God’s will is done, but it takes time. The changes that John the Baptist proclaims did happen, but not overnight. God’s will is done, but not instantly. Everything is in God’s time not ours.
Now notice something, what would happen if Herod repented of his sins and changed his life. He would grow in goodness. In fact, there are clear examples of this in Jesus’ apostles, one was a corrupt official and the other was a terrorist. Both of their lives changed radically. However, he did not. He was intensely ambitious living off the coat-tails of the leadership in Rome. He wanted the power and glory that the Roman Empire could offer and God allowed all of this to happen.
However, he did not. He was intensely ambitious living off the coat-tails of the leadership in Rome. He wanted the power and glory that the Roman Empire could offer and God allowed all of this to happen.
Many could take that as a sign that God did not exist. However, indeed, Jesus teaches us the principle that God works upon and teaches us to do the same.
Sometimes when you destroy the evil, you destroy the good too. Like chemotherapy, yes, you will destroy the tumor, but will take good tissue along with it. (cf Mt 13:29-30).
In fact, Joseph does exactly what Jesus teaches many years later, he takes his family and they leave the territory where they are not wanted. It was not the time to react. (cf. Matthew 10:14-15)
So, the reality is, that as the bible teaches over and over again, as we live in this existence, we deal with those who seek their own selfish gains and in the process they turn evil. You can get all the power and Earthly glory with them and in the end you too can become just as evil. Think of some of the most evil characters from the 20th Century on each of the Continents. If that is what you want, go ahead and go for it, but watch your back in the process. The evil eventually become surrounded by the evil and eventually consumed by it. There are two kinds of people for whom Jesus did not come. He did not come to heal the healthy and he did not come to heal those who choose to be sick and do not choose to be healed.
There are two kinds of people for whom Jesus did not come. He did not come to heal the healthy and he did not come to heal those who choose to be sick and do not choose to be healed.
Indeed, you really cannot heal someone who does not want to be healed. Remember the old light bulb joke: How many psychiatrists does it take to change a light bulb? One, but only if the light bulb wants to be changed.
Herod, chose selfishness and evil and God granted him his desire. Each day he grew in dark ways so that to this day, his legacy is one that even Hitler and Stalin would run from.
Those who chose the Kingdom of God find it, even when they feel surrounded by evil. They grow closer to God to the point that they can find God in the darkest of places on Earth.
So, the evil king does not succeed, he will just be consumed by his evil. The person who seeks Christ finds him more and more each day. Yet, it is a slow process as slow as the nature about us.
The person who seeks Christ finds him more and more each day. Yet, it is a slow process as slow as the nature about us.
Yes, we do see in nature traumatic changes instantly, tsunamies, earthquakes, volcanos, and extreme weather, but overall nature changes gradually. You will be bored to tears watching a tree grow, but it does grow and in time you can see the fruit of this unseeable process.
This process happens within us daily. Meanwhile, it may appear that evil wins, and in the short run it does, but in the long run, evil loses always. We cannot always see it happening, but it does happen and at God’s pace not ours.
Name me the man who aspires to be the Next King Herod, I don’t know if you will find one in politics. He could not possibly run for office successfully. Herod’s legacy is horrifying; much of what he built was destroyed, even the temple which he began fifty years before his equally evil son mocked Jesus on the day of His crucifixion.
If God exists why is there evil? Because to eliminate evil in this world would also destroy the good. Christ came to take us to invite us into formation for the Kingdom where evil cannot live, and Herod has never seen. The Kingdom that we seek by choosing Christ, is where evil is not found and of which evil shudders.
Photo Credits:
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Top Middle: Public Domain
Bottom Middle: webking_loop
Bottom: zimmytws