Thursday, August 29, 2013
Beheading of John the Baptist 1st Reading: Jer 1:17-19 Gospel:
Mark 6:17-29
Herod had ordered John to be arrested and had him bound and put in prison because of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip. Herod had married her and John had told him, “It is not right for you to live with your brother’s wife.” So Herodias held a grudge against John and wanted to kill him, but she could not because Herod respected John. He knew John to be an upright and holy man and kept him safe. And he liked listening to him, although he became very disturbed whenever he heard him.
Herodias had her chance on Herod’s birthday, when he gave a dinner for all the senior government officials, military chiefs and the leaders of Galilee. On that occasion the daughter of Herodias came in and danced; and she delighted Herod and his guests.
The king said to the girl, “Ask me for anything you want and I will give it to you.” And he went so far as to say with many oaths, “I will give you anything you ask, even half my kingdom.” She went out to consult her mother, “What shall I ask for?” The mother replied, “The head of John the Baptist.” The girl hurried to the king and made her request: “I want you to give me the head of John the Baptist, here and now, on a dish.”
The king was very displeased, but he would not refuse in front of his guests because of his oaths. So he sent one of the bodyguards with orders to bring John’s head. He went and beheaded John in prison; then he brought the head on a dish and gave it to the girl. And the girl gave it to her mother…
D@iGITAL-EXPERIENCE (Daily Gospel in the
Assimilated Life
Experience)
There are striking similarities between Herod and John. Both were trying to be true to their words. Herod had given word to a dancer that he would reward her with anything. He made this commitment before his important guests. When the girl asked for the head of John the king bitterly regretted having made that thoughtless promise. He felt he had to be true to his words, as if it was such a big deal to his guests if he withdrew his promise.
But while Herod was true to the words he gave to a dancer, John was true to the words he gave to the “Word”. Both Herod and John were also willing to have some blood shed for their words. But while King Herod was ready to shed some other person’s blood, John the Baptist shed his own blood for the Word.
These brought Herod eternal qualm of conscience but spiritual fulfilment to John the Baptist who had the chance to implement his motto “He must increase while I must decrease”. He decreased in height literally by losing his head. – Rev. Fr. Dan Domingo P. delos Angeles, Jr., DM. Email:[email protected]. Website: www.frdan.org.
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