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Theo Tigno•
2/4/2010 9:33 pm
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Friday, February 5th 2010 |
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.
Dawg's thought:
Today's prayer intention is for an end to Planned Parenthood.
"What advantage is there in delaying confession or putting off Holy Communion? Cleanse yourself immediately; spit out the poison and be quick to take the antidote and you will feel much better than if you kept delaying for a long time." - Imitation of Christ, by Thomas a Kempis
What started off as an adulterous relationship ended murder. It sounds like a plot on one of today's movies.
I experience it on a smaller degree at times on the road. What may start off as driving a few MPH over the speed limit often times turns into unsafe driving. In those moments, I often know that the best way to get out of a situation is to be humble and slow down.
What if Herod was humble enough to listen to John the Baptist? What if Herodias was humble and strong enough to admit that St. John the Baptist was right?
We can play the what if game, but what about you and me? What if we were humble enough to be charitable? What if we were humble enough to act with God's grace and turn to it when we fell? Take care and God Bless.
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