Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint 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.
Sensuality can lead you to chop the head of an innocent person
1) Fame. Everything begins here, in the fame of John. He is a person that does good and seeks to lead people to God. This produces fame and curiosity. Fame and curiosity do not get on well together and often lead you away from your values. There are many people envious of John, through gossip and absurd comments, but John stayed away and focused on his values. You have to follow his example not caring for your image or fame. Focus on John and Jesus.
2) Sensuality. A woman dancing and drinking alcohol leads the man to lose his sanity by thinking he is powerful. He so loses his head that he beheads an innocent person. Do not allow sensuality to lead your life; this temporary sensation can lead you to behead innocent people in your life. Excuse me for saying this: please do not obey this temporary weakness because if you do it can blind you and make you believe false things in life. Think of the many people that lose direction in life due to mistakes made by others.
3) The truth. John always preaches the truth and is a Martyr of Truth. Today, you and I must ask God not to be led by sensuality and to be witnesses of truth, even though we might lose our heads in the process of defending our principles and values. Be faithful to the truth and the truth will set you free.
May God bless you in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Don’t forget, Heaven is our goal!
