The Beheading of John the Baptist
Friday, February 07, 2014
4th Week in Ordinary Time
1st Reading: Sir 47:2-11
Gospel: Mark 6:14-29 King Herod also heard about Jesus because his name had become well-known. Some people said, “John the Baptist has been raised from the dead and that is why miraculous powers are at work in him.” Others thought, “He is Eli jah,” and others, “He is a pro phet like the pro phets of times past.” When Herod was told of this, he thought: “I had John beheaded, yet he has risen from the dead!”
For this is what had happened. 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 be cause 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 Gali lee. 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 king dom.” 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. When John’s disciples heard of this, they came and took his body and buried it.
D@iGITAL-EXPERIENCE
(Daily Gospel in the
Assimilated Life
Experience)
Truth is a double edged sword. Abide by it and it frees you; resist it and you die. Had Herodias yielded to the preaching of John, the truth could have set her free. But she grappled, refusing to let go of her illicit relationship with King Herod. The resulting clash with the truth was like a thunderous storm that produced mushrooms of hatred in her heart. When the first opportunity came to let off steam, she made sure truth was dead by having John beheaded. When John died, did the truth die? No, but her soul did! -Rev. Fr. Dan Domingo P. delos Angeles, Jr., DM. Email: [email protected]. Website: www.frdan.org.
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