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.

He respected him

1. Your identity. The Gospel tells us that Herod heard about Jesus and was sure it was John who had been raised from the dead. He compared Jesus to John. Today it is good for you to reflect on yourself and see if you are authentic in your life or if you are comparing yourself to others. This fast-paced life that we lead, in which we seek to maintain our image, may lead us to lose our own identity. We gradually conform to the wishes of others, which might cause us to fall into depression and anxiety. Do as Jesus did, show yourself the way you are. Be authentic even if that also comes at a price.

2. Herodias. She is a woman who is full of hatred. Hate always leads to death. Hating is more than wishing evil to someone, it’s wishing them not to live. It leads to destroying the life of the other person, and at the same time destroying your own life. You live immersed in resentment and remorse because you don’t enjoy life since you’re constantly seeking to destroy the other person.

3. On a platter. When power and revenge creep into your life, they make you lose your mind and cut off the head of the person who doesn’t play on your team or doesn’t think like you.  How many of us “strike out” people who don’t think like us? Seek peace in your heart and always live in the truth, that’s how your true identity is forged.

Remember that something good is on the way!  

God bless you and be with you in the name of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.