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Gospel: Mark 6: 14-29
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.
The Gospel of the Lord.
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The story does not end well for King Herod.
He’s already made a series of horrible choices, including the beheading of John the Baptist, a decision he made while he was drunk.
But we’ve captured Herod at an interesting point in his journey; he’s “perplexed” – haunted – by John.
Even after John’s death, the Gospel tells us, “Herod kept trying to see him.” Meaning, he was still interested in John’s message.
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That, to me, represents where so many in our world are at.
Thankfully, few if any are as deranged as Herod. But many are “perplexed” by the Gospel message; they’re interested, but undecided.
Faith can seem risky; difficult; life-changing.
Just consider the ramifications faith would’ve brought into Herod’s life. For starters, he would have to stop living with his brother’s wife!
And while he didn’t accept the Gospel message from John, others might accept it from us.
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In what ways do I share my faith with others?
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May we be emboldened by the life of John the Baptist, who was never afraid to speak the truth. Who knows, it just may change a life.
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Image credits: (1) Pin on Quick Saves (2) Bartolome Esteban Murillo, Saint John the Baptist in the Wilderness (3) KCBI 90.9FM
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