Outside the glass window of my hotel room was a bird that chirped and pecked on the glass. That weird incident happened the next five mornings. Then one afternoon, I stepped out onto the balcony and stood in front of the window where the bird stayed. I saw my reflection. The bird must have been looking at his own reflection too!

I googled it and learned that birds peck on windows, especially tinted ones, because they think their reflection is an enemy. The bird was threatened by its own image.

In today’s Gospel, Herod also felt threatened because John the Baptist called him out for his marriage to his brother’s wife. The prophet’s act was meant for Herod to reform from his wrongdoing. But Herod didn’t see the good behind what John did.

That’s like the guilt we feel when we sin. It’s the Holy Spirit’s way of calling us out for our wrongful act. Instead of feeling insecure, threatened, or anxious, we should repent and change.

Alvin Fabella (alvinfabella@yahoo.com)

reflect

What do you see when you look in the mirror? What should you change?

Lord, help me change the areas in my life that I want to change but can’t do on my own. Amen.

Saint Paul Miki and Companions, martyrs, pray for us.

If we live holy lives and become saints, the faithful will sing God’s praises because His will has been accomplished. Let us remember that all glory belongs to God, not to us. May we be humble and drive away all our avarice and greed. Our life is God’s gift to us, so let's do our best not be tempted by the devil's lies and distractions.

² Like the choice fat of the sacred offerings, so was David in Israel. ³ He made sport of lions as though they were kids, and of bears, like lambs of the flock. ⁴ As a youth, he slew the giant and wiped out the people’s disgrace, when his hand let fly the slingstone that crushed the pride of Goliath. ⁵ Since he called upon the Most High God, who gave strength to his right arm to defeat the skilled warrior and raise up the might of his people, ⁶ therefore the women sang his praises and ascribed to him tens of thousands. When he assumed the royal crown, he battled  ⁷ and subdued the enemy on every side. He destroyed the hostile Philistines and shattered their power till our own day. ⁸ With his every deed he offered thanks to God Most High, in words of praise. With his whole being he loved his Maker and daily had his praises sung. ⁹ He set singers before the altar and by their voices he made sweet melodies. He added beauty to the feasts and solemnized the seasons of each year ¹⁰ so that when the Holy Name was praised, before daybreak the sanctuary would resound. ¹¹ The Lord forgave him his sins and exalted his strength forever; He conferred on him the rights of royalty and established his throne in Israel.

Responsorial Psalm | Psalm 18:31, 47, 50, 51

R: Blessed be God my salvation!

³¹ God’s way is unerring, the promise of the Lord is fire-tried; he is a shield to all who take refuge in him. (R) ⁴⁷ The Lord lives! And blessed be my Rock! Extolled be God my savior. ⁵⁰ Therefore will I proclaim you, O Lord, among the nations, and I will sing praise to your name. (R) ⁵¹ You who gave great victories to your king and showed kindness to your anointed, to David and his posterity forever. (R)

Gospel | Mark 6:14-29

John the Baptist was a man of faith —he trusted God. He embraced his inevitable martyrdom and knew that Herod would be angry at him for questioning his marital status. In other words, John decided that witnessing to the truth was worth the cost of his life. Today, we honor John the Baptist as one who is fearless in following Christ.

Gospel Acclamation

Blessed are they who have kept the word with a generous heart, and yield a harvest through perseverance.

¹⁴ 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.” ¹⁵ Others were saying, “He is Elijah”; still others, “He is a prophet like any of the prophets.” ¹⁶ But when Herod learned of it, he said, “It is John whom I beheaded. He has been raised up.” ¹⁷ 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. 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 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. ²² 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.” 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?” Her mother 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.

Reflect

“He (John the Baptist) knew well that he would die as he was against the king, but he preferred virtue to safety. Yet, what is more expedient than the suffering which brought glory to the saint?” (Saint Ambrose)

Read the Bible in one year! Read 1 CORINTHIANS 13 - 16 today.

Do you ever find yourself in a similar struggle as Herod, burdened by past mistakes but unable to move beyond them? The inner conflict he faced—a clash between guilt, fear, and pride—mirrors what many of us experience when we are confronted by our own wrongdoings. It’s easy to feel trapped by guilt and to recognize the weight of our actions, yet struggle to take the next step toward reconciliation or healing. Like Herod, we may wrestle with the idea of change, especially when it challenges our sense of control, reputation, or comfort.

Herod’s choice to ignore the stirrings of his conscience and hold on to his power offers a powerful lesson in the consequences of refusing to change. His decision to prioritize his reputation and political standing over doing what was right left him stuck in the very guilt he feared confronting. When we avoid taking responsibility for our actions, we create a cycle that keeps us trapped in regret. It’s easy to justify avoiding uncomfortable truths, but in doing so, we only deepen our internal conflict. Like Herod, we may try to preserve our image or protect ourselves from the discomfort of facing our mistakes, but the cost of inaction is often spiritual and emotional stagnation.

Ultimately, Herod’s story is a reflection of the human condition—the tension between knowing we need to change and the reluctance to take that step. It challenges us to reflect on our own lives: Are we willing to confront our guilt and seek healing, or are we choosing the safety of denial and pride? True change requires us to face our fears, embrace humility, and act with the intention of making things right. Like Herod, we are given the opportunity to transform—but only if we choose to respond, no matter how difficult the journey may seem. 

Fr. Paolo Asprer, SSP

reflection questions

Are you burdened by past mistakes but unable to move forward? What’s keeping you from seeking healing from the Lord?

Lord, grant me the courage to face what remains unhealed. Strengthen me to seek the true healing and transformation You offer. May I choose Your will over my fears, finding peace and redemption in the embrace of Your grace. Amen.

Today, I pray for: _______________________________