Reflection for August 2 Saturday of the 17th Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 14:1-12

Gospel: Matthew 14:1-12

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.

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Reflection:

Do you always make sure to do good so that you can have a clear conscience? 

A clear conscience is one of the greatest gifts we can offer ourselves and others. On the other hand, guilt of conscience is perhaps the worst enemy we can ever face—it is invisible, yet it quietly eats away at our peace. It follows us when we lie down at night and whispers to us when we rise in the morning. 

When King Herod heard about Jesus, fear immediately gripped his heart. He thought that John the Baptist had come back from the dead. Why was John on his mind? Because Herod knew deep within him that he was responsible for John’s unjust and undeserved death. The weight of that sin—of that injustice—was like a shadow that never left his side. It haunted him, pierced his conscience, and robbed him of peace. 

This is what guilt does when left unaddressed. It doesn’t shout—it lingers. It had haunted Herod for the longest time. So when news of Jesus’ miracles began to spread, Herod’s guilty conscience trembled. He feared the light because it reminded him of the darkness he had never truly faced. 

The wrongs we’ve done in the past can hang around our necks like an albatross, weighing us down and reminding us of wounds left unhealed. Unless we confront them with humility and repentance, they will continue to follow us. But thanks be to God—He is a God of mercy and new beginnings. When we take the first step toward healing, He meets us with open arms. 

Let us strive each day to avoid doing anything that could hurt others—through our words, our actions, or even our silence. Let us always choose what is good, what is kind, and what is pleasing to the Lord. Let us walk humbly, live peacefully, and love sincerely. 

And if ever we offend or hurt someone, may we have the courage to ask for forgiveness, the grace to forgive ourselves, and the strength not to fall into the same sin again. 

Because in doing so, we will begin to live not only with a clear conscience—but also with a heart that is free, and a soul that is truly at peace. —Marino J. Dasmarinas