Today’s Gospel selection from St. Mark recounts the martyrdom of St. John the Baptist at the hands of a weak-willed King Herod…a saga of religious dedication and heroism meeting basic human nature.
JOHN’S SINGULAR MISSION
John the Baptist was a man completely absorbed in the person of Jesus Christ. He had one mission: to point out Jesus to others. The persons, John the Baptist and Jesus, go “hand in hand” …totally giving of themselves in sacrificial love.
JOHN’S MARTYRDOM
Sad to say, the dedicated, heroic life of John the Baptist ended with the almost ludicrous actions of King Herod. Herod was a petty ruler, the pawn of a unscrupulous wife; he allowed himself to become enraptured by the party-dancing of Herodias’ daighter. So taken up by the party, the people present, and the dancing of his daughter, Herod publicly promised her anything – even swearing regarding his intentions! The ultimate outcome: John the Baptist was murdered per the request of Herodias relayed through her daughter, beheaded as the party ended. John’s heroic life tragically ended as a victim of humanness, weakness, and sinfulness.
21ST CENTURY DISCIPLESHIP.
We hear this gripping story as 21st Century disciples of Jesus Christ, in our global scene of pandemics and politics, of injustice and insecurity. Like John the Baptist, we are called to point out Jesus in our world, to unselfishly love and serve the Lord, day by day, even in the hum-drum times of everyday life. Our love for Jesus is to be expressed in simple, practical ways like hospitality, concern for the needy, faithfulness to our vocations, detachment from things, and reliance on God. Our lives may not appear “heroic” as portrayed of King David in today’s first reading from the Book of Sirach, yet we are to give ourselves completely to God in ways both great and small.
SOME BASIC DEMANDS
As “Ordinary Time” continues to unfold, questions come to mind: what challenges do we face as we point out Jesus in our world? Do we stand for the truth against different oppositions? Do we at times “get carried away” by people or situations? What helps us maintain our strength and perspective?
THE PRICE TAG
For every sin there is a price tag that sells us to death and eternal punishment. Sin has taken us further than where we want to go, It has kept us longer than where we want to stay and it has costs us more than we want to pay. Christ paid the price for our sins by laying his life for us. He took the wrath that is upon us upon himself and in exchange, he has given us righteousness.Turn to Jesus for he has already paid the price. So hold on to the righteousness of Christ and stay faithful to him for there is a cost for being a true disciple.
DAILY CONSOLATION
Staying faithful to God is always worth it…
May the words of today’s Psalm 18 encourage us daily: “…blessed be my Rock! Extolled be God my savior. Therefore, I will proclaim you, O Lord, among the nations, and I will sing praise to your name.
Osho
