Category: Uncategorized

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Gospel: Mark 6: 17-29

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.
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.
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.
Herodias’ 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?”
She 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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This is a grim section of Mark’s Gospel. Why would he spend so much time describing the death of John the Baptist?

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Primarily because John’s death foreshadows what will happen to Jesus. 

Just as John is murdered for speaking the truth to authority, so Jesus will be killed for confronting people with hard truths, including our need to repent.

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Herod’s foolish decisions also show the snowball effect of unchecked sin. Small sins can quickly snowball into larger ones – a caution to us all.

Herod’s story begins with a hardened heart. While he displays a mild religious curiosity by listening to the preaching of John, he doesn’t change his ways; he isn’t converted.

Then he invites his friends to his birthday party. What starts out as a celebration of life quickly turns into a banquet of death. Herod drinks until he’s drunk. 

The snowballing begins.

Later, his stepdaughter enters and performs a highly suggestive dance. Moved by pride, Herod offers her anything she wants, even half of his kingdom. To his surprise she asks for the head of John the Baptist.

Too afraid of disappointing his guests, Herod has an innocent man – and God’s prophet – killed. 

Thus, a hardened heart led to drunkenness, to pride, and ultimately to taking an innocent man’s life at a lavish birthday party.

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While you and I can hardly identify with such severity, Herod’s life is a caution to us all. 

Is there an area of my life where I need to change? Is there a particular temptation, a habit, or an emotion at risk of snowballing? 

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May John the Baptist pray for us, that his preaching of repentance would help to change us all for the better.

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Image credits: (1) simplypsychology.org (2) John the Baptist Reprocing Herod, artuk.org (3) Pinterest

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Gospel: Matthew 23: 8-12

Jesus spoke to his disciples:
“Do not be called ‘Rabbi.’
You have but one teacher, and you are all brothers.
Call no one on earth your father;
you have but one Father in heaven.
Do not be called ‘Master’;
you have but one master, the Christ.
The greatest among you must be your servant.
Whoever exalts himself will be humbled;
but whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

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Today we celebrate one of the greatest intellects the Church has ever known: Saint Augustine. 

Augustine has garnered more attention lately because of Pope Leo, who was formerly the head of the Augustinians, a religious order devoted to Augustine’s theology and spirituality.

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But who, exactly, was he?

Augustine was the son of Saint Monica, whose feast day we celebrated yesterday. Like many adults today, Monica prayed tearfully for the conversion of her son, as well as her husband, Patrick.

Fortunately, she never gave up.

After two decades of marriage, Patrick converted to Christianity, a mere two years before his death. However, he’d never live to see Augustine’s accomplishments. It’d take a few more years of searching before Augustine surrendered to Christ.

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Almost two-thousand years later, we can still tell Augustine’s story because of his autobiography, Confessions. It was the first autobiography written in the Western world, and perhaps, the first in history.

With stunning honesty and humility, he retraces the mistakes of his youth, how he dabbled in pagan philosophies, indulged in worldly pleasures, and finally experienced a dramatic conversion. 

The last section of his autobiography focuses on philosophy, theology, and his understanding of the human heart. His most famous line being: “Our hearts are restless, until they rest in you, O LORD.”

Interestingly, Augustine wrote Confessions shortly after becoming a bishop! Imagine having a storied history, then sharing it with the world while also carrying the yoke of public ministry. 

But he understood his life in the context of service to God and the Church. As he later said, “With you I am a Christian. For you I am a bishop.”  

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May he intercede for us today, that we would all accept the truth: “Our hearts are restless, until they rest in you, O LORD.” And live accordingly.

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Image credits: (1) Word on Fire (2) Ibid. (3) Redbubble

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Gospel: Luke 7: 11-17

Jesus journeyed to a city called Nain,
and his disciples and a large crowd accompanied him.
As he drew near to the gate of the city,
a man who had died was being carried out,
the only son of his mother, and she was a widow.
A large crowd from the city was with her.
When the Lord saw her,
he was moved with pity for her and said to her,
“Do not weep.”
He stepped forward and touched the coffin;
at this the bearers halted,
and he said, “Young man, I tell you, arise!”
The dead man sat up and began to speak,
and Jesus gave him to his mother.
Fear seized them all, and they glorified God, exclaiming,
“A great prophet has arisen in our midst,”
and “God has visited his people.”
This report about him spread through the whole of Judea
and in all the surrounding region.

The Gospel of the Lord.

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Today we celebrate the feast of Saint Monica, the patroness of mothers, married women, and alcoholics.

Hers was a difficult life, sustained by faith and grace. Like many parents today, Monica’s greatest cross was the wellbeing of her child, Augustine, who was a wayward youth.

Although he was immensely gifted, Augustine first used his gifts to better himself. Spiritually, he was dead like the son in today’s Gospel.

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For 17 years, Monica prayed for Augustine’s conversion. I’m sure she shed enough tears to fill the sea, storming heaven in prayer day after day, night after night. 

But she never gave up. Love never does. 

Thankfully, her prayers were answered.

Augustine not only became Catholic; he was also ordained a priest and later a bishop. Finally putting his gifts at the service of the Church, he became one of the most influential thinkers the Church has ever known.

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On her deathbed, Monica asked Augustine for one thing: “That you remember me at the altar of the Lord wherever you may be.”

That’s something each of us can do for our loved ones, especially those who struggle in any way – with faith, temptation, or any particular cross. 

We remember them at the altar of the Lord, trusting that, through Monica’s intercession, our prayers will also be answered, even years from now.

Saint Monica, pray for us.

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Image credits: (1) Pastor Charles Finny, WordPress (2) The Raising of the Widows Son in Nain, Jan Verhas, 1860 (3) Womenofgrace.com