Reflection for February 7 Friday of the Fourth Week in Ordinary Time: Mark 6:14-29

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:

There’s always a heavy price attached to speaking out against wrongdoing and evil. For example, in a family setting, if a wife notices that her husband is playing with fire, she must call his attention or even confront her philandering husband. 

But this kind of boldness sometimes comes with a heavy price. Either there will be conflict in their marriage, or it may even lead to estrangement. However, even if there’s a heavy price to pay, we must still speak out; otherwise, we are consenting to what is wrong, evil and immoral. 

John the Baptist paid a heavy price for speaking out against adultery—he was beheaded for speaking the truth. Such is the irony of life. We speak the truth, yet we still suffer for doing so. But how could we correct a wrongdoing if we do not denounce it? 

True followers of Jesus are those who are not afraid to speak out, regardless of the consequences. And John the Baptist is one of the best, if not the best, models of what it means to be a true follower of Jesus. 

How would you react should there come a time when you must face this kind of predicament? Would you keep quiet and consent to what is wrong, or would you correct it by speaking your mind? – Marino J. Dasmarinas