The Death of John the Baptist E-mail Print PDF Mt 14:1-12 1Herod the tetrarch heard of the reputation of Jesus 2and 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.” 3Now Herod had arrested John, bound [him], and put him in prison on account of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip, 4for John had said to him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.” 5Although he wanted to kill him, he feared the people, for they regarded him as a prophet. 6But at a birthday celebration for Herod, the daughter of Herodias performed a dance before the guests and delighted Herod 7so much that he swore to give her whatever she might ask for. 8Prompted by her mother, she said, “Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist.” 9The king was distressed, but because of his oaths and the guests who were present, he ordered that it be given, 10and he had John beheaded in the prison. 11His head was brought in on a platter and given to the girl, who took it to her mother. 12His disciples came and took away the corpse and buried him; and they went and told Jesus. Reflection: People regarded John as a prophet. Prophets are very disconcerting people. They afflict the comfortable and comfort the afflicted. They speak for Someone else, God, and so they must speak what God bids them say and when God bids them to say it. John the Baptist is a real prophet. Hence, when bidden by God, he does not fear to tell Herod that it is not lawful for him to have his brother Philip’s wife Herodias. John pays dearly for his fidelity. He literally loses his dead. In England, under King Henry VIII, there was a man, Thomas More, who also paid dearly for his fidelity to God. He refused to recognize Henry VIII as head of the Church in England. He was beheaded for his fidelity to his faith. Before dying, he declared, “I am the king’s good servant, but God’s first.” Are you ready to lose your head to gain the crown of martyrdom?
Posted on: Fri, 02 Aug 2013 16:48:45 +0000
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