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 guest she 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.
REFLECTION
they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.
My reflection is based on the homily by Pope Francis. Santa Marta, February 8, 2019
There are four characters:
King Herod, "corrupt and indecisive"
Herodias, wife of the king's brother. She "knew only how to hate"
Salome, "the vain ballerina"
St John the Baptist, "the prophet, alone in his cell". Decapitated
The King believed John the Baptist was a prophet. He enjoyed listening to him and in fact protected him but kept him in prison. He was corrupt, and was unable to strike a balance between his own life, and the many injustices he kept going ahead with. Herod was guilty of adultery. .
Herodias hated John the Baptist because he spoke with clarity. "Hatred is capable of anything. Hatred is a great power; it is the breath of Satan. Satan cannot love; his love is hatred”.
Salome was an excellent dancer and she pleased the guests and the king. The King promised her, "I will give you everything". These were the same words that satan used to tempt Jesus. "If you adore me, all this is yours."
John the Baptist, a holy man, died alone in his cell because of the whim of a vain dancer, the hatred of a diabolical woman and the corruption of an indecisive king. He was a martyr of the truth.
John the Baptist was put to death because he publicly rebuked Herod for his unlawful marriage to Herodias. He was faithful to his calling. He is a martyr who allowed himself to diminish so as to leave his place to the Messiah.
"Life has value only when we give it; when it is given in love, in truth; when we give it to others, in daily life, in our families. It should always be given. If someone grasps his or her life in order to keep it, like the king by his corruption, or the woman with her hatred, or the child, the young girl with her vanity that was that of an adolescent, naive, life dies, life ends up withered, it is useless. " (Pope Francis)
Vaticannews.va Memorial of the Passion of Saint John the Baptist.
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