Daily Gospel Reflection
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August 29, 2022
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.
While reflecting on Saint Mark’s Gospel describing John the Baptist’s beheading, I had the pleasure of attending my first wedding at Notre Dame’s Basilica of the Sacred Heart. The love between the young Domer couple was evident, as was the joy felt by all family and friends who witnessed the beautiful sacrament of matrimony.
On that gorgeous summer weekend, I also had the opportunity to visit all my favorite campus spots, including the Grotto and the wooded Stations of the Cross around Saint Joseph’s Lake.
The joy of that occasion and rare quiet time on campus was a gentle reminder to me of my call to be an evangelist of Christ to my family and others that I encounter. I often fall short of this calling, but I must try my best to bear witness to Christ.
While few of us will be called martyrs like John the Baptist and lose our lives (or heads) for what we believe, we are all made to be holy through the presence of God within us. We may realize that we also have some similar characteristics to Herod and Herodias within us.
A priest friend once told me that God does not promise an easy path, only a perfect destination. By all accounts, John did not lead an easy life. Still, the joy shown by leaping in Elizabeth’s womb at Mary’s visitation, his humility at Christ’s baptism in the Jordan, and his selfless death for his beliefs at the hands of Herod are perfect examples of how we should strive to live.
Through the Holy Spirit, guidance from the sacraments, and the intercession of our Lady and John the Baptist, may we find the strength to be faith-filled beacons of joy, humility, and selflessness in a world in desperate need of blessing.
Prayer
Lord, the beheading of John the Baptist reflects how fear and truth telling can lead to death and violence. May we have the courage to stand in Your truth and speak life, love, and compassion. From the moment of conception until our last breath, life, as your gift, stands true. Touch those today with anger, revenge or hatred for another person or a group. Let Love and Life win over fear, violence and death. Open our eyes, ears, and hearts to see your Son and our Brother Jesus in all now and forever. Amen.
Saint of the Day
Besides Jesus and Mary, only one other person has a birthday and death-date marked by the Church: John the Baptist. The feast of his birth falls on June 24, but today we celebrate the feast of his death.
The Gospel today recounts how king Herod had John imprisoned because John told Herod he should not have married his brother’s wife. This enraged the king’s wife, and she wanted John killed, but Herod kept him in prison because he liked to hear John speak, even though he found what John said “perplexing.”
On his birthday, a dancer entertained Herod and the court. She danced so beautifully that Herod granted her one wish. His wife influenced her to ask for John’s head. Herod was distressed, but granted the wish and John the Baptist was killed.
John gave his life to the truth, so it is not surprising that he was killed for speaking it. His mission was to conform his life to truth so that when Christ came along, he might recognize and clearly proclaim him. May God give us courage to give our lives to truth as well.
Several relics of John the Baptist rest in the reliquary in the Basilica, and his beheading is depicted in a stained glass window there.
The Raclin Murphy Museum of Art on campus contains an etching from Rembrandt depicting the beheading of John the Baptist; see that image here.
St. John the Baptist, you gave your life for truth--pray for us!