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 out
against what is wrong and immoral. To remain silent against wrongdoing is never
an option because how could we correct a wrong if we would just be silent? How
would others know that what they are doing is wrong if we would 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 but 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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