Daily Gospel Reflection

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August 29, 2023

Memorial of the Passion of Saint John the Baptist
Mt 6:17-29
Listen to the Audio Version

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.

Reflection

Fr. Brian Florin ’16
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The conscience is that “still small voice” implanted in the depths of our being by God. Conscience convicts us of right and wrong. It prompts us to do good and avoid evil. In a word, conscience is the voice of God within us that leads us and guides us throughout our lives back to God.

The reality is, however, the conscience can be silenced in one’s life should one choose to ignore it repeatedly. St. John Henry Newman once said, “The conscience is more than a man’s own self. The man himself has not power over it, or only with extreme difficulty; he did not make it, he cannot destroy it. He may silence it in particular cases or directions…but he cannot emancipate himself from it.” (Sermon 5)

Today’s solemn celebration of the Passion of St. John the Baptist highlights a classic case of “conscience-silencing.” We read in the gospel that Herod “feared John, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man.” Furthermore, “when he heard him speak, he was very perplexed, yet he liked to listen to him.”

Deep within the heart of Herod, we find a conflicted man. A man whose conscience nagged at him to listen to this holy and righteous man. A man whose conscience was prompting him to cease living in adultery with Herodias. A man whose conscience was trying to lead him to the straight and narrow path of salvation carved out by Jesus Christ. And yet, Herod chose to obey his passions rather than his conscience.

As John the Baptist was laid in the tomb, perhaps Herod believed that this nagging voice deep within him would also be laid to rest. And yet, even should one silence the conscience, one can never destroy it.

Today, on the Solemnity of John the Baptist, may we thank God for the gift of our conscience. May we listen closely to this still small voice planted deep within us. And may we continue to form our consciences through prayer, the sacraments, and the teachings of the Catholic church.

Prayer

Rev. Nicholas Ayo, C.S.C.

Lord God, your Son walked among us flawed human beings. He loved the poor, the sick, and the widowed. He delighted in little children. He sat at table with men and women who were sinners and called them to new life. Only hypocrisy raised anger in Jesus. Open our eyes and hearts to see ourselves as we are and to cast ourselves upon your mercy rather than to cover our shame with lying to ourselves and to those around us. Amen.

Saint of the Day

Feast of the Beheading of John the Baptist

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!