Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 14,1-12
Herod the tetrarch heard of the reputation of Jesus and said to his servants, “This man is John the Baptist. He has been raised from the dead; that is why mighty powers are at work in him.” Now Herod had arrested John, bound (him), and put him in prison on account of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip, for John had said to him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.”
Although he wanted to kill him, he feared the people, for they regarded him as a prophet. But at a birthday celebration for Herod, the daughter of Herodias performed a dance before the guests and delighted Herod so much that he swore to give her whatever she might ask for. Prompted by her mother, she said, “Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist.”
The king was distressed, but because of his oaths and the guests who were present, he ordered that it be given, and he had John beheaded in the prison. His head was brought in on a platter and given to the girl, who took it to her mother.
His disciples came and took away the corpse and buried him; and they went and told Jesus.
Jesus’ fame reaches people’s ears
- John the Baptist. He became Herod’s conscience because he spoke the truth. He did not keep quiet, he said things and, of course, because he spoke the truth, he was beheaded. They killed him because he was a nuisance. Whoever speaks the truth sooner or later becomes a nuisance to some. Their words, their attitudes, the way they think are the cause of irritation. Don’t get discouraged! I invite you to keep on defending the truth; things happen but the truth remains. You will also suffer injustice, and perhaps you are suffering from it now. But it is preferable to be beheaded for speaking the truth than to lose one’s head and live in lies.
- Herod. This refers to the kind of person who lives in his narcissism; who lives in his world and everyone must be part of his world, so he does away with whoever does not join in. Don’t be that Herod who lives through other people’s lives. Do not desire that all the spotlights are on you. Don’t step on anyone’s head in order to excel. Don’t look for applause when you do things wrong. It has become a disease of this era to be Herod… to be a person who wants to shine at all costs, but to shine not through their own work, but by getting rid of others.
- The head. Don’t let this society make you lose your mind; you have to live in the Truth. Do not be afraid of the things that you will have to face, but take care of prayer and of your roots, they are two things that will always guide you. Do not fall, be strong, the same truth will help you overcome all the blows that might come your way. Keep your head up. Don’t lie to yourself. You are a prophet of Jesus. Announce Jesus.
God bless you and be with you, in the name of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen
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