Idle Curiosity?

Gospel: Luke 9: 7-9

Herod is curious about Jesus, but in what way? He wants to see Jesus, but not enough to leave his palace and meet him.  When Jesus is finally brought to him, Herod wants to see a spectacle - some miracle Jesus could perform in order to entertain him.  But Jesus would not even speak to him, so Herod casts him aside out of boredom and disinterest.  This curiosity is one of shallow self-interest in seeking entertainment and affirmation.  If such is not obtained, Jesus is cast aside and put to death within us.

Is our interest in Jesus like that of Herod? How much of our faith life is seeking to be entertained, amused, and having our egos massaged! We seek Jesus not out of authentic faith and love, but for our own purposes and self-interest.  We create caricatures of Jesus that look remarkably like ourselves, a Jesus that challenges us in no way at all, but one who merely affirms all our preferences and biases.  

Instead of Herod's curiosity, there is the curiosity of Zacchaeus.  He climbed a tree to see Jesus. He welcomed Jesus into his house when asked to do so. The hospitality and fellowship meal transforms Zacchaeus into a disciple of love who invites others to encounter the Lord at the table and find transformation of their lives in the encounter.  Today is a good day for climbing a tree.