Main news for 31 July 2020

Herod always feared the coming of the Messiah. However, he most likely did not really believe in the Messiah. It would be more accurate to say that he feared any messianic movements that periodically flared up in different parts of Palestine. This happened more often in Judea, but sometimes in Galilee too, which Herod ruled. Herod hardly believed seriously in God, but he fully believed that the next messianic movement could lead to his losing power.

Meanwhile, in Gospel times there were many popular legends and images connected with the Messiah. They were not always rooted in the sacred books; no less often, if not more often, their sources were precisely popular traditions and legends, sometimes strangely intertwined with mythological plots. One such plot was connected with the image of the great prophet of antiquity, Elijah. In the early prophetic books, in 4 Kings to be exact, Elijah's ascent into heaven is mentioned. Among the people, on the basis of this story, a legend arose that before the Messiah's coming Elijah would return to earth in order to predict His coming.

Herod was not a believer, but judging by the testimony of contemporaries, he was very superstitious. He feared the dead. Not those, of course, who rested in their tombs, but those who, as it seemed to him, could come out of those tombs and take revenge on him. Herod, of course, did not believe in resurrection, but he feared shades coming out of tombs, as well as heroes of popular legends descending from heaven. And now he was perplexed.

He had already executed John the Baptist. And he regretted this execution: it appears not to have been part of his plans. The decision had been made, as often happened with Herod, in the heat of the moment, out of stupidity and frivolity. And now it seemed to him that this Unknown One had come to avenge John. Herod did not understand the meaning of what was happening, but with some subconscious feeling he guessed the connection between the executed John and this incomprehensible new threat. However, this did not bring him closer to understanding what was happening. Instinct and intuition are not enough for understanding; here clear spiritual sight is needed, the sight that faith gives, sight that Herod did not have and could not have.