Daily Gospel Reflection
Join the Notre Dame family of faith. Receive God’s Word and a unique reflection in your inbox each day.
February 7, 2025
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.
As a high school teacher, I find myself telling my students frequently that “we live in challenging times.” Truth is, today is no different from hundreds of years ago in that humans continue to struggle to bridge differences, to listen with open and fearless hearts, and continue to resent those who injure us. We are as imperfect today as Herodias was bitter toward John the Baptist then.
And yet the story of John the Baptist, even with its tragic end, is one of inspiration—“a voice crying out in the wilderness.” John was firm in his witness, making us ready so that through his example, everyone might believe. John’s intelligence, morality, and goodness earned him Herod’s ear, and even though it was not enough to save his life, John’s lasting impact was enough for Herod to believe that the holy man he had beheaded had been raised from the dead.
John the Baptist’s life modeled charity, humility, and forgiveness. He bridged differences by baptizing tax collectors; he listened with an open and fearless heart as he advised non-believers; and he countered human darkness by proclaiming repentance for the forgiveness of sins. As a harbinger of hope, John’s profound belief provides us with the tools of faith so that we can continue to face the challenges of today and tomorrow.
Today, in celebration of what would have been my mother’s 93rd birthday, I honor her model of faith and its impact on my life. A deeply religious woman, she embraced her faith every day through the recitation of the rosary and her devotion to her children. She guided us through challenges growing up and was hopeful that our shared baptism would sustain us. In these challenging times, may we continue to hear those strong voices of hope and love shining through the darkness, inspiring us to listen, learn, and forgive.
Prayer
Lord, you suffered the news of the death of your herald and companion, John the Baptist. Yet you also discerned in his death the power of his faith, for he was willing to give everything for his belief in God. Be close to us and those we love in all our trials. Help us to rely on the power of our faith in you, that our witness in times of trial may be a light for others. Amen.
Saint of the Day
In the spring of 720, a father and his two sons set out from Wessex, England on a pilgrimage to Rome and the Holy Land. On their way, the father died in Lucca, Italy, and was buried there. Soon, miracles were recorded at his tomb.
The man’s two sons, Willibald and Winebald, grew up to become important figures in the Church of the time, and both are remembered as saints, as is their sister, Walburga. The holiness displayed by his children encouraged more reverence for this pilgrim, even though his name was not recorded for history.
The faithful of Lucca and those who followed his children gave this man a name—Richard—and even a title that suggested he was king of the English. (In reality, there was no King Richard from England before the King Richard Lionhearted ascended to the throne some 400 years later.)
Despite what little we know of him, St. Richard’s memory is kept because he was a father who loved God and his children. To undertake such an arduous pilgrimage took great faith, and that faithfulness became a family trait carried on by his sons and daughter.
St. Richard is an example to parents who strive to encourage their children by their actions in their own life of faith. We know next to nothing about this man, but because his values and spirit inspired his children, his holiness still echoes through time to us today.
Relics from the four people in this holy family rest in the reliquary chapel in the Basilica.
St. Richard, you were the faithful father who encouraged your children to become saints, pray for us!