Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint 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.
Saint John the Baptist
1. Herod. When power blinds someone, it often ends up killing an innocent person. That’s why I urge you to be cautious with power and how you handle it. Power and narcissism combined create immense human and social suffering. Remember, a narcissistic person thrives on conflict; they always seek it out. I’d even say that a narcissistic person with power needs to destroy you, boost their own self-esteem, and break your will so they can feel good. You might think you’d never get into such a relationship, but it’s hard to avoid, because their tactics often involve gifts, rewards, love-bombing, or small “honeymoons.” Herod, or the narcissistic person with power, is like someone who constantly suffocates you, but then gives you just a little oxygen when you’re about to leave, trying to string you along. As soon as they see you might be slipping away, they ease up a bit.
2. “Ask of me”. Returning to the topic of narcissism, it refers to people whose only interest is feeling good, regardless of others. They’ll even seek to feel good at others’ expense. In life, you’ll meet people who are incredible actors; they’ll offer you anything to keep you on their radar. But behind every offer, they always want to make you their satellite. Here are three traits a narcissist exhibits: manipulation, conviction, and a search for allies. So, if your life becomes a constant need to prove yourself or clarify situations unnecessarily, then these Herod and Herodias figures in your life are isolating you.
3. Corpse. When you’ve confronted narcissism in your life, you might survive many things, but other things also need to die. This is the point of your spiritual work: understanding that you’ll never “win” against a narcissist. The only option is to distance yourself from people like that. Because their desire is that only they must shine, and they’ll kill you with indifference. May Saint John the Baptist protect you from every narcissist who becomes a Herod.
Don’t forget 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.
