A simple and powerful homily on Luke 9:7–9, reflecting on Herod’s troubled conscience, the call to listen to God’s voice within, and how this shapes our daily family life. ( 25-9-25)
Praise be to Jesus Christ
There was a king, who was hated by his people because of his selfish choices and reckless punishments. Everyone was afraid of him so no one dare to say this truth to him. Finally, his wise teacher decided to tell him the truth. Hearing the truth from the teacher the king became angry and he even threatened to kill his teacher, but later, restless and disturbed, he asked for advice. The teacher said, “It is good that before every decision you remember, ‘I may die today.’ Appoint someone to remind you of this.” The king agreed to the advice of the wise teacher with difficulty. In the beginning he was very much irritated; however, gradually he began to think the outcome of his act before taking any decision and soon the people who once hated him began to love him. Peace and joy spread through the kingdom. The king had learned to listen to the quiet voice of conscience.
In today’s Gospel we hear of another king, Herod. Saint Luke says that Herod was perplexed when he heard about Jesus. That word carries a heavy meaning. Herod had silenced the voice of John the Baptist by killing him. But though John was dead, the voice of conscience within Herod refused to be silenced. When news of Jesus spread, Herod trembled and thought, “It must be John whom I beheaded.” He could not run away from his guilty conscience.
The voice of conscience is a mysterious gift of God. In the Old Testament, King David felt this voice after he sinned against Uriah. He looked strong on the outside, but inside his heart was pierced until he admitted his sin before God. Conscience is not our enemy. It is God’s messenger in the depth of our hearts, reminding us of the truth and guiding us back to life. Saint John Henry Newman once said that conscience is “the aboriginal Vicar of Christ,” the first voice of God that speaks within us.
But like Herod, we can try to silence it. We may cover it with excuses, pride, or anger. In our families we sometimes speak harshly and then pretend it was nothing. Parents may neglect prayer or quarrel often, but deep inside there is an unease. Children may hide mistakes from their parents or be unkind to their friends, yet conscience whispers in the night. We can ignore this voice for a while, but it never dies. It waits for us, calling us to turn back to what is right.
Herod was perplexed because he had no courage to repent. He allowed his conscience to trouble him but not to change him. This is where we must be different. When conscience disturbs us, let it become our teacher, not our enemy. It may sting, but it is a healing sting, like a doctor’s medicine that burns for a moment but saves life.
The king in the story found peace when he began to remember death before every action. For us Christians, remembering death means remembering that life is short and that we will stand before God. If we live with this awareness, our conscience becomes clearer, and our choices become kinder and more just. In our families this can bring great change. When parents act with a pure conscience, children grow up trusting and loving. When children listen to conscience, families are filled with respect, honesty, and peace.
Herod silenced John but could not silence the truth. May we never be like him. Instead, let us try to have the humility of the king in the story, who learned to listen and found new life.
Lord Jesus Christ, create in me a pure conscience. Amen.
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God Bless…
Very interesting….. Good story
O! Jesus,I thank for the team Search, bless them to continue to inspire
Lord help me to remain in your blessings🙏🙏💐💐
Thank you dear father🙏
The Truth is Always bitter But by the grace of God we will able to Endure the life hear on Earth but God sees the Heart , Thank you Fr, Nirmal Mary SAB,