Gospel: Mark
6:14-29
King
Herod heard about Jesus, for his fame had become widespread, and people were
saying, “John the Baptist has been raised from the dead; that is why mighty
powers are at work in him.” Others were saying, “He is Elijah” still others,
“He is a prophet like any of the prophets. But when Herod learned of it, he
said, “It is John whom I beheaded. He has been raised up.”
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. Herodias
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. His 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?” Her mother 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:
Do you
have the courage to denounce a wrongdoing or to be more specific an act of immorality?
John
courageously denounced the immorality of King Herod and Herodias that is why he
was imprisoned by King Herod. Not only that John was imprisoned soon after he
was beheaded upon the request of Herodias. John paid dearly for speaking
against immorality and for speaking about the sanctity of marriage.
Many
marriages right now are breaking apart, many immoral relationships are on-going
for the simple reason that nobody dares to speak against it. We must speak
against any form of immorality, against any attempt to violate the sacred vows
of marriage. We need not worry about the after effect of our righteous action
for Jesus will take care of us.
Some
marriages fall apart because there are relatives who choose to be silent
instead of speaking against it. For the simple reason that they are afraid to
offend or hurt the feelings of their relative/s.
But
there’s that bigger picture once we remain silent and condone immorality:
Families will be destroyed, lives will be destroyed and the future of innocent
children will also be destroyed.
Would you
be courageous enough to denounce immorality? – Marino J. Dasmarinas
