Gospel:
Mark 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.
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Reflection:
Would you
have the courage to denounce an adulterous relationship? You surely will think
and ponder very hard about the consequence of your action. Or perhaps you will
not have the courage to speak against it for fear of being rebuked or even
killed.
John the
Baptist was a man of courage for he did not fear speaking against the adulterous
relationship of King Herod and Herodias. John told them that it was wrong for
them to be in that relationship because Herodias was married to his brother
Philip. Yet, by speaking about what was moral and true John was imprisoned and
eventually beheaded.
There
comes a time in our lives that we need to make a stand or speak against what is
wrong and immoral. This is for the reason that it is only through this that we
would let others know what is wrong with what they are doing.
To remain
silent against wrongdoing is never an option because how could we correct a
wrong if we will just be silent? How would others know that what they are doing
is wrong if we will remain silent? It’s like we are consenting to what is wrong
if we will pretend to hear no evil and see no evil.
We
therefore have to speak out this does not necessarily mean that we will be
angry and there would be shouting and cursing. We can speak out in a civil
manner to those whom we perceive to be at fault. What is important is we speak out
and we let others know that we are not consenting to their actions.
Like John
the Baptist, let us also have the courage to denounce anything that is wrong.
We can do this by speaking to the concerned individual/s with civility and
without implying that we are more holy, powerful and superior than them.
- Marino J. Dasmarinas
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