THE WORD
Jer 1,17-19 / Mk 6,17-29 (or 1 Cor 2,1-5 / Lk 4,16 -30)
Herod was the one who had John 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.
IN OTHER WORDS
A priest told his parishioners he would give all Catholics a manna from heaven! All stood to declare themselves as Catholics. The priest asked: “If terrorists come and threaten to kill all Catholics, what will you do?” His parishioners replied in a chorus: “Father, we will tell them that you are a Catholic!”
Today, we commemorate the death of John the Baptist. He stood his ground and bravely told the truth to Herod: “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” What can we learn from the life of Herod in relation to John?
Herod listened but he did not obey. He was aware that John was a “righteous and holy man” and “he liked to listen to him.” However, he had to honor his words and grant the young woman her request, despite knowing it as a bad choice. Herod valued others’ opinion rather than God’s word.
What Herod did can also happen to us. We attend masses but fall short in showing mercy and compassion; we memorize the Ten Commandments and know the Beatitudes and yet still practice corruption in different forms. Herod was scared to act differently because he might lose credibility among his valued friends. When we go away from the needs of our esh and seek the face of the Most High, we are most bothered by our separation from our comfort zone. But when we grow from this challenge, we come into oneness with Christ.
- Fr. Felmar Castrodes-Fiel, SVD | DYRF-Cebu
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.
