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At
that time Herod the tetrarch heard of the reputation of Jesus and said
to his servants, “This man is John the Baptist. He has been
raised from the dead; that is why mighty powers are at work in
him.” Now Herod had arrested John, bound him, and put
him in prison on account of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip.
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Students
of the “Star Wars” movies all know that Anakin Skywalker
left the good and moral life of a Jedi knight to move to the Dark
Side. They also know that his two twin children, born of his wife
Padme, Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia, would lead the family back to
the good. This session of “Star Wars: Episode III--Revenge
of the Sith” concentrates on how Anakin, the pleasant and brave
young man became the dark figure of Darth Vader, a part man, part
machine who hated, and killed at will.
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What
is the evolution of evil in human beings? One of the best ways to
determine an answer is to study human beings who have been called
“evil.” Herod the tetrarch would qualify. The reason
why he is mentioned in Matthew’s Gospel in this passage is his
desire to marry someone that was married to another. He did not
let that stop him from marrying her, and ultimately, killing John the
Baptist who had condemned the union. Herod Antipas, or Herod the
tetrarch as he is called, was interested only in himself, and nothing
could stand in the way of what he wanted.
In the final analysis, selfishness and desire for control and power, are at the heart of the evil that human beings cause. It is clear in every age, and quite apparent in the fantasy world of “Star Wars.” Anakin Skywalker became Darth Vader because he wanted power for his selfish reasons, and his interest in what he wanted directed his acceptance of the Dark Side, eventually even rejecting the one person he truly loved. It is often mentioned in these meditations that we are not as evil as certain characters in movies or in our world at the present time. Basically, we are moral human beings interested in our own growth while we are living in a community of other people who are in the same situation we are. But that which causes evil is still very much a part of our human existence. Our fallen human natures tend toward selfishness; we desire control; we want what we want, and often we will tolerate nothing that will hold us back. One of the resolutions that leads to maturity is the desire to understand that our selfishness is indeed part of the evil that harms our world. |
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THOUGHT
What should I do at this moment to control
my selfishness a little better?
PRAYER Good
and gracious God, you have created us to be good, moral people, and
such is our ultimate desire. But our own selfishness and desire
to control and exercise power over others often prevents our growth to
maturity. Help us recognize any evil in our lives, and then give
us the
grace to do something about it. Be with us, we pray.
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©2007
Capuchin Province of Mid-America
Fr. Mike Scully is a member of the Capuchin Province of Mid-America |
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