Memorial of Martyrdom of John

So that your faith might rest not on human wisdom, but on the power of God. – 1 Corinthians 2:5

       People make mistakes — small ones and big ones. I say this all the time whenever I give talks, because I know how it is to commit stupid, monumental boo-boos.

       I realized that no matter how careful I am with the decisions I make, sooner or later a crisis will come, whether it’s self-inflicted or through a combination of uncontrollable, unforeseen circumstances.

       Had I more space to write about it, I can tell you a number of stories of when I made wrong career and financial decisions

that brought me swiftly to “crisis mode.” I took a high-paying job that turned out to be a hell-hole for me. At another time when my income was good, I got sloppy financially until my money bled out. The next sequence of events was one that I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy.

       My fault? Definitely. But I realized that God never ceases to be a Father to me. He pulls through for me in spite of me. His power and love is magnified in my weakness. Ariel Driz (adriz77@yahoo.com)

Reflection: Who is the primary source of your strength?

Father, I thank You for blessing me in spite of me. Thank You for adopting me as Your own child in Christ Jesus. Amen.

It is a challenge to know exactly what God wants us to do. As difficult as this may seem, it is one of the most attractive aspects of discipleship. It is exciting to know what happens next. We can trust that no matter what it is, God’s grace will always be there to help us.

1 Corinthians 2:1-5

1 When I came to you, brothers and sisters, proclaiming the mystery of God, I did not come with sublimity of words or of wisdom. 2 For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ, and him crucified. 3 I came to you in weakness and fear and much trembling, 4 and my message and my proclamation were not with persuasive words of wisdom, but with a demonstration of spirit and power, 5 so that your faith might rest not on human wisdom but on the power of God.

Psalm 119:97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102

R: Lord, I love your commands.

97 How I love your law, O Lord! It is my meditation all the day. (R) 98 Your command has made me wiser than my enemies, for it is ever with me. (R) 99 I have more understanding than all my teachers when your decrees are my meditation. (R) 100 I have more discernment than the elders, because I observe your precepts. (R) 101 From every evil way I withhold my feet, that I may keep your words. (R) 102 From your ordinances I turn not away, for you have instructed me. (R)

John the Baptist was a fearless preacher who prepared the hearts of the people to hear the Gospel of Jesus. It is difficult to understand the challenges he faced. What we know is that he laid down his life for the truth. He refused to compromise even when his life was on the line. Let us pray to have the same conviction when faced with challenges in the service of the Kingdom of God.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me; he has sent me to bring glad tidings to the poor.

Mark 6:17-29 (or Luke 4:16-30)

17 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. 18 John had said to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” 19 Herodias harbored a grudge against him and wanted to kill him but was unable to do so. 20 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. 21 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. 22 Herodias’s 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.” 23 He even swore many things to her, “I will grant you whatever you ask of me, even to half of my kingdom.” 24 She went out and said to her mother, “What shall I ask for?” She replied, “The head of John the Baptist.” 25 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.” 26 The king was deeply distressed, but because of his oaths and the guests he did not wish to break his word to her. 27 So he promptly dispatched an executioner with orders to bring back his head. He went off and beheaded him in the prison. 28 He brought in the head on a platter and gave it to the girl. The girl in turn gave it to her mother. 29 When his disciples heard about it, they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.

think: It is a challenge to know exactly what God wants us to do as His disciples.

Thank You Lord for: __________________

READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR  Isaiah 53-56

THE CHALLENGE OF DEVELOPMENT

Like most of the prophets, John experienced a violent death for standing up for his conviction and God-given mission.

       It was Herod Antipas who caused his death when he took delight in the dance of Salome, the daughter of Herodias, wife of his half-brother whom Antipas had married. We may safely assume that if Salome’s dance pleased her male audience, it was sensuous. So, his first sin was that he enjoyed a lascivious spectacle.

       This in turn prompted him to make his imprudent oath and promise Salome anything she wanted. This led to the more serious sin of pride: He did not want to lose face in front of his guests by breaking his promise. Finally, the sin of pride led him to commit murder — and not an ordinary murder, but the murder of a holy man.

    Here we see how evil begets evil and gains more and more momentum. It moves from a mere consent to lasciviousness to consent to murder — all in gradual stages.

       John also went through a gradual development, but in the opposite direction of Herod — from good to better — while Herod moved from bad to worse. In the beginning, John is a solitary ascetic living in the desert. Then he goes a step further and involves himself in the spiritual progress of his fellowmen by preaching to them and baptizing them. This, in turn, brings him to extend his preaching and to include even the immoral Herod, a dangerous practice which lands him in jail. In all this, we see John growing steadily in spiritual stature — until he dies a martyr’s death.

       Our spiritual lives, too, are ruled by this law of development. Good thoughts tend to spur us on to perform great things for God. As Jesus tells us in the parable of the talents, faithfulness in small things leads to bigger things. And so, let us think good and positive thoughts and eventually our whole destiny will develop into something good and holy! Fr. Rudy Horst, SVD

REFLECTION QUESTION: Are you aware that your spiritual destiny depends very much on how you take care of a positive development in your thoughts, words and actions?

Lord, with Your help, may I be more aware that my daily thoughts and actions propel me towards a certain goal. Help me to follow the example of John and reach the goal of holiness.