29-Aug-16

Gospel MK 6:17-29

Herod was the one who had John the Baptist arrested and bound in prison
on account of Herodias,
the wife of his brother Philip, whom he had married.
John had said to Herod,
“It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.”
Herodias harbored a grudge against him
and wanted to kill him but was unable to do so.
Herod feared John, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man,
and kept him in custody.
When he heard him speak he was very much perplexed,
yet he liked to listen to him.
She had an opportunity one day when Herod, on his birthday,
gave a banquet for his courtiers,
his military officers, and the leading men of Galilee.
Herodias’ own daughter came in
and performed a dance that delighted Herod and his guests.
The king said to the girl,
“Ask of me whatever you wish and I will grant it to you.”
He even swore many things to her,
“I will grant you whatever you ask of me,
even to half of my kingdom.”
She went out and said to her mother,
“What shall I ask for?”
She replied, “The head of John the Baptist.”
The girl hurried back to the king’s presence and made her request,
“I want you to give me at once
on a platter the head of John the Baptist.”
The king was deeply distressed,
but because of his oaths and the guests
he did not wish to break his word to her.
So he promptly dispatched an executioner with orders
to bring back his head.
He went off and beheaded him in the prison.
He brought in the head on a platter and gave it to the girl.
The girl in turn gave it to her mother.
When his disciples heard about it,
they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.
Reflection:
John the Baptist was a man of principle. Today, we would say that John was a man who called it as he saw it.
John saw Herod's relationship with Herodias as wrong in God's eyes, so he spoke the truth: "It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.”
King Herod was both fascinated and fearful of John the Baptist. Although he was irate that John publicly denounced his corrupt marriage to his brother's wife, Herod still respected John as a true man of God.
Are we so different?
We may very well respect and like our pastor but be angry with him for pointing out our sins and bad behavior.
Herod was a victim of himself. His pride and ego kept him from recanting on his impulsive promise to a dancing girl to behead one of the greatest men of all time.
Herodias, on the other hand, had evil intent, using her own daughter as a tool to gain revenge on John for publicly exposing her as an adulteress and bigamist.
There is a lesson to be leaned from Herodias: Vengefulness is the most twisted of vices because it consumes the one who embraces it.
Through the honesty and sacrifice of John the Baptist, the glory of God's love is revealed in Jesus Christ.
Herod and Herodias were not beyond the forgiveness of God; if they had but repented of their evil deed.
"In those days John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”
Then the people of Jerusalem and all Judea were going out to him, and all the region along the Jordan, and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins." - - Matthew 3: 1-2-5-6