Today we recall the Passion of John the Baptist. Mark chronicles John’s arrest, imprisonment and death. It is a horrific story and it mirrors the atrocities that we human being continually perpetrate on one another.
John’s crime was the bluntly told Herod that is was not lawful for him to marry Herodias, his brother’s wife! When Herodias heard this, she harbored a grudge against John and she was determined to have him killed! However, she did not have the authority or means to do so!
However, Herodias was a clever, manipulative and conniving woman! She began planning how to get revenge on John.
Herod had planned a great feast for Herodias’ birthday. He had invited many esteemed guests for this grand celebration! During the celebration, Herodias’ daughter performed a beautiful dance that enchanted Herod and his guests. Herod was so enthralled by her perf0rmance that he said the girl: “Ask of me whatever you …show more content…
And so it was: John’s head was brought to Herod on a platter. Herod gave it to the girl and the girl gave it to her mother. And the feast continued!
I assume that at times all of us have been in a bind. Perhaps we were asked to do something that we knew was not right. And at some point in the future we likely will be in a similar situation. It is difficult to stand up and do what is right when there is pressure from others to conform to what they do. At these times, will we have the strength and courage to stand our ground and do what we know is right and just? Or will we “cave in” to please others or to “look good”?
Today may we pray for the strength and courage to do what we believe is right, even if others may not approve of our choice or our action. May we always strive to have the integrity and courage of John the Baptist, who stood firm in his beliefs even though it ended up “costing him his head”! What a wonderful and brave model is for us! May we strive to live as John
John’s crime was the bluntly told Herod that is was not lawful for him to marry Herodias, his brother’s wife! When Herodias heard this, she harbored a grudge against John and she was determined to have him killed! However, she did not have the authority or means to do so!
However, Herodias was a clever, manipulative and conniving woman! She began planning how to get revenge on John.
Herod had planned a great feast for Herodias’ birthday. He had invited many esteemed guests for this grand celebration! During the celebration, Herodias’ daughter performed a beautiful dance that enchanted Herod and his guests. Herod was so enthralled by her perf0rmance that he said the girl: “Ask of me whatever you …show more content…
And so it was: John’s head was brought to Herod on a platter. Herod gave it to the girl and the girl gave it to her mother. And the feast continued!
I assume that at times all of us have been in a bind. Perhaps we were asked to do something that we knew was not right. And at some point in the future we likely will be in a similar situation. It is difficult to stand up and do what is right when there is pressure from others to conform to what they do. At these times, will we have the strength and courage to stand our ground and do what we know is right and just? Or will we “cave in” to please others or to “look good”?
Today may we pray for the strength and courage to do what we believe is right, even if others may not approve of our choice or our action. May we always strive to have the integrity and courage of John the Baptist, who stood firm in his beliefs even though it ended up “costing him his head”! What a wonderful and brave model is for us! May we strive to live as John