THE WORD
Jer 26,11-16.24 / Mt 14,1-12
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, for John had said to him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.”
Although he wanted to kill him, he feared the people, for they regarded him as a prophet. But at a birthday celebration for Herod, the daughter of Herodias performed a dance before the guests and delighted Herod so much that he swore to give her whatever she might ask for.
Prompted by her mother, she said, “Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist.” The king was distressed, but because of his oaths and the guests who were present, he ordered that it be given, and he had John beheaded in the prison. His head was brought in on a platter and given to the girl, who took it to her mother. His disciples came and took away the corpse and buried him; and they went and told Jesus.
IN OTHER WORDS
I was a pleaser. It controlled me as a student leader and as a seminarian. As long as I pleased others, myself included, it was okay. Until one day, my novice master brought this to my attention.
Struck, I was disturbed for some time. Thereafter, the process of purification had commenced.
Herod, Herodias, and Herodias’ daughter are pleasers. Herodias wants to please herself. The daughter wants to please her mother. Herod wants to please Herodias’ daughter, his guests, and the whole kingdom. It is a story of pleasing either the self or others, of satisfying one’s desires, and of advancing personal and political interests. Today’s drama is tantamount to our present-daybombastic soap operas glorifying deceitful acts, adulterous relationships, and vanity.
Yet the same drama brings us back to our individual experiences too. We find it easy to win others’ support and enjoy pride, honor, and fame simultaneously. The drama hits the core of our personal motivations, inner drives, and conscience. It leads us to considering the fundamental mandate of pleasing God first and foremost; of doing His will, not our own; and of allowing Him to guide us to where He wants us to be.
Pleasing God seems tough, demanding, and life-long. But it gives us inner freedom and true peace. We are invited to discern and listen to “the promptings of the Holy Spirit” – words from spiritual directors that are difficult to comprehend. Here, challenges and struggles emerge like re burning us alive or water purifying our dirt, making scripture stories more relevant and real. The
Eucharist nourishes us and we shed tears before the Blessed Sacrament. Suddenly, life changes.
It becomes God’s and no longer ours. And perhaps like John, who bravely stood for the truth and offered his life, we may finally, truly, and lovingly please God.
- Frt. Kevin James M. Pizarras, SVD | Portugal
The Word in other words 2016
An annual project of Logos Publications, The WORD in Other Words Bible Diary contains daily scripture readings and reflections written by priest, brothers, and sisters of the three congregations founded by St. Arnold Janssen (the SVD, SSpS, and SSpSAP). It hopes to serve as a daily companion to readers who continually seek the correlation of the Word of God and human experience.
