Sunday, August 24, 2014

8/29/2014 – Friday of 21st week of ordinary time – Passion of St John the Baptist – Mark 6:17-29

     John's prophetic voice carried God's message to his people and prepared the way for the coming of Jesus.  Even though his prophetic voice did God’s will, it is also what got him into trouble with the authorities of his day.   John charged the highest-ranking governmental official of the region, Herod Antipas, the tetrarch of Galilee, of making an unlawful marriage with Herodias, the daughter of one of Herod's brothers and the ex-wife of another brother. Speaking out against Herod landed John in prison.   Imprisonment might have been enough to silence John, but Herodias wanted him dead.  In the midst of the wine and food of a great banquet, in the midst of an oath he makes in front of his guest in order to please his wife's daughter, Herod agreed to kill John the Baptist.  It’s John’s passion and martyrdom that we celebrate today with the universal Church.
     King Herod is both puzzled by John and attracted to him.   Herod feared John, yet he listened to him, because he saw John as a holy and righteous man.  Herod was willing to sacrifice the life of John the Baptist in order to maintain his own honor, prestige, and power.   Wanting to show his subjects that he had a firm grasp of power and control, he showed us what a weak person he really was.  It seems that at one point, Herod was willing to listen to John's proclamation of God's word, but Herod cared more about the world, which silenced God's word.  Perhaps we can ask ourselves today: what are the messages of our world that silence the word of God within us?
     The martyrdom of John the Baptist has a message for all of us.  In the midst of the reality of our lives, God’s word speaks to us and tries to take root in our lives.   We can all be messengers of God's word in all that we say and do.  We can bring God's word and God's love to others, no matter what is going on in our lives.  Sometimes living out our faith boldly is not comfortable or easy for us to do.  But we are asked to stand in solidarity with Christ, to stand in solidarity with John the Baptist and all the community of saints.  They prepared the way of faith for us.  We are to help prepare the way of faith for others.    


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