Daily Gospel Reflection
Join the Notre Dame family of faith. Receive God’s Word and a unique reflection in your inbox each day.
August 1, 2020
At that time Herod the ruler heard reports about Jesus; and he said to his servants, “This is John the Baptist; he has been raised from the dead, and for this reason these powers are at work in him.” For Herod had arrested John, bound him, and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, because John had been telling him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.”
Though Herod wanted to put him to death, he feared the crowd, because they regarded him as a prophet. But when Herod’s birthday came, the daughter of Herodias danced before the company, and she pleased Herod so much that he promised on oath to grant her whatever she might ask.
Prompted by her mother, she said, “Give me the head of John the Baptist here on a platter.” The king was grieved, yet out of regard for his oaths and for the guests, he commanded it to be given; he sent and had John beheaded in the prison. The head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, who brought it to her mother.
His disciples came and took the body and buried it; then they went and told Jesus.
I usually read this Gospel as a disturbing historical account. I don’t necessarily identify with any of the characters: I could not betray my brother in the manner of Herod, I am not as cunning as Herodias and I can’t dance, so scratch the daughter of Herodias too.
John the Baptist is the remaining central character. He was killed for his strident opposition to Herod’s unlawful marriage. I cringe at the thought of his gruesome execution.
The Old Testament reading at Mass today describes the rejection of Jeremiah. Both readings emphasize the counter-cultural role of prophet. The essential functions of the job include reminding the community of the principles God has provided for our benefit and spiritual well-being and confronting behaviors that are not aligned with God’s desire for us. The prophet warns us of the consequences of these continued behaviors and calls us to atonement, usually through some form of mortification. Often, the prophet is only recognized in hindsight and may likely be viewed by contemporaries as a radical outsider.
Perhaps this gospel passage is stirring me to awaken to the prophets in my midst? Am I potentially being called to broaden the lens through which I interpret the world – to become more tolerant, inclusive and forgiving and less judgmental? Am I being nudged to loosen my grip on worldly attachments or habitual patterns of behavior which may prevent my surrender to the loving embrace of God? Am I being called to use the gifts I have been given to fight for the less privileged and most vulnerable in my community? Am I being challenged to a more selfless practice of human love before being drawn more deeply into the dance of Divine Love? I pray that God may grant me the grace to recognize today’s prophetic voices and to heed their call to at-one-ment with the Body of Christ.
Prayer
When you walked the earth, Lord, there was the same kind of violence we see in our day. Violent men threw John into prison and raged against the kingdom you were establishing. Help us counteract the violence of our time by being men and women who try to advance your kingdom of peace. Amen.
Saint of the Day
St. Alphonsus Liguori was born in 1696 in Naples, Italy, the oldest of seven children. He was soon known as a child prodigy—he earned a doctorate in law by the age of 16. At 21 he had his own legal practice and soon became a leading lawyer in Naples.
His law practice immersed him in the world, and he found escape in music and in visiting the sick. While visiting people suffering from terminal illnesses, he felt a distinct call to leave the world and to give himself to God. He began to study theology, even though his family protested, and was ordained a priest when he was 29.
He became known for his clear, direct, and simple preaching, and he would travel to parishes around Naples giving missions. He became a sought-after theologian and writer and founded the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer, known as the Redemptorists, in 1750.
He was appointed bishop of an area near Naples, which was marked by uneducated parishioners and apathetic priests. He worked tirelessly to educate the laity and reform seminaries.
As he aged, he suffered from severe rheumatism. Often, he could barely move or even raise his chin off his chest. He spent several years only drinking from tubes because his head was so bent forward.
He endured turmoil within the government and even his own religious order, but persevered through it all. He vowed to never waste a moment of his life and lived that way for more than 90 years. He died in 1787 and nearly 100 years later, he was declared a doctor of the Church, a title given to 35 saints who are known for elucidating the faith by their words or example.
Much of what marks St. Alphonsus’ holiness has to do with his use of time. On the one hand, he vowed to never waste a moment of his life, and was profoundly productive. On the other hand, it was in performing a profoundly non-productive work of mercy that he heard God’s call to deepen his life of faith. As a leading lawyer, he must have had many claims on his time, yet he made time in his day to visit those suffering from terminal illnesses. Those visits opened a different horizon to his life.
As the patron of the work of lay people, we can call upon St. Alphonsus’ example and prayer to assist us in using our time well. May we find the balance he achieved between productivity and the “unproductive” works of mercy where we hear the voice of God.
St. Alphonsus Liguori’s relics rest in the reliquary chapel in the Basilica.
St. Alphonsus Liguori, patron saint of the work of laypeople, pray for us!
Image Credit: Our featured image of St. Alphonsus Liguori is in the public domain. Last accessed March 28, 2025 on Wikimedia Commons.
