Who Is This Man About Whom I Hear Such Things

"Who Is This Man About Whom I Hear Such Things?"

A Reflection on Luke 9:7-9

Gospel Passage: Luke 9:7-9 (NABRE)

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.

In today’s Gospel, we meet Herod the tetrarch—a man in power, a man of influence, and yet a man deeply disturbed and confused. He hears of Jesus, the one who is healing the sick, feeding thousands, casting out demons, and proclaiming a kingdom not of this world. And his reaction? Perplexity. Anxiety. Curiosity.

“Who is this man about whom I hear such things?”

This question lies at the heart of the Gospel and, in fact, at the heart of our own lives. Herod’s question is not just a historical inquiry—it is a spiritual confrontation. It demands a response. It is the same question Jesus will later ask His disciples: “Who do you say that I am?” (Luke 9:20)

Herod represents many people in the world today—those who hear about Jesus from afar, who are intrigued or disturbed by His presence, but remain at a distance. Notice what Luke tells us: “And he kept trying to see Him.” Herod was curious. He wanted to see Jesus. But wanting to see and being willing to encounter Jesus are two very different things.

Herod’s conscience is haunted by his past—especially by the guilt of beheading John the Baptist. Guilt often creates fear of truth. Herod is afraid that John has returned or that God is somehow confronting him through Jesus. Instead of opening his heart in repentance, Herod keeps his distance, hiding behind speculation and intrigue.

In contrast, the people who genuinely seek Jesus in the Gospels—like the woman with the hemorrhage, the blind man, or the lepers—do so not with curiosity but with faith. They seek an encounter that transforms. Herod seeks spectacle, not salvation.

This brief Gospel reminds us that Jesus always causes a stir. Even today, when truly proclaimed, Jesus unsettles our comfort, challenges our sins, and invites us to something deeper than superficial religion. The question is, how do we respond? Like Herod—curious but unwilling? Or like the disciples and the crowds—hungry for truth and open to grace?

In our prayer life, in our participation at Mass, in how we live out our faith, we must ask:

Do I truly seek to encounter Christ? Or do I keep Him at arm’s length, afraid of what He might ask of me?

We are invited not just to hear about Jesus, but to see Him, to know Him, and to be transformed by Him.

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Key Takeaway:

Herod’s question—“Who is this man?”—is the same one Jesus asks each of us: Who do you say that I am? Our answer must not remain in words but be shown in the way we seek, follow, and live in relationship with Christ every day.

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Closing Prayer:

Lord Jesus,
You are the Way, the Truth, and the Life.
Help me not to keep You at a distance, but to seek You with all my heart.
Free me from fear, from guilt, and from anything that holds me back from fully following You.
May I recognize You not just in the pages of Scripture, but in the Sacraments, in prayer, and in the people I meet.
Give me the courage to answer Your question with my life:
You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.
Amen.