Homily for Presidential Scholars

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.

 

Though this passage is sad because of the death of John the Baptist, and his killing was done callously at the hands of Herod, I find something to admire about Herod’s curiosity. He knows the truth: he murdered John the Baptist, and he is bewildered because of all the talk he hears. He does not dismiss what other people are saying, which is a positive trait. 

Think of how we deal with news, data, and information today. Many people summarily dismiss it as fake, or from a perspective different from their own, or a news cycle spin from the other side. We are dismissive of much that we hear. Herod holds the question before him and ponders it with curiosity. The root of his wondering is: Who is this Jesus of Nazareth and where does he get his power and authority? Some say Jesus has been reincarnated in the person of John the Baptist has come back to life; others claim that Jesus is the prophet Elijah who never died but was taken up to heaven on a chariot. Others point to Jesus being one of the prophets of old. Herod kept trying to meet and to know Jesus.

As Presidential Scholars, we cannot be quick to make absolute judgments. We must discern what is hearsay from what is verifiable. We must analyze what we are hearing in the classroom against the perspectives we hear at home. We must know the source of the material we are reading or watching online, and we must be diligent in testing our assumptions to see if they are verifiable and accurate, and we must always hold out the possibility that we are wrong, that there is always something more to learn. 

We also must see that education is one of the greatest gifts our parents and families give to us. It is not only for our own edification, but for build-up of the common good. St. Ignatius began schools to make graduates as people who would build up the citizenship on earth. A well-rounded person would be able to run cities, schools, governments, hospitals, and businesses with the view of being people for others. Early on, St. Ignatius saw the fruitful, necessary value of a liberal arts, universal education. One who was schooled in the academic arts would be able to discern rightly and make prudent decisions for the common good. Ignatius aimed to make students into saints who could lead society through virtuous living. 

As Presidential scholars, our hope is that you grow in gratitude for all those who support your education in many ways, especially through the prayers and hopes that many hold out for you. You will repay them by holding fast to wonder, to keep curiosity alive, to be creative in your pursuit for wisdom, and to provide the larger world with hope. And let us be like Herod in this regard only: he kept trying to see Jesus. Seek Jesus (or your God) in your pursuits, and you will find him by your side.