PASSION OF SAINT JOHN THE BAPTIST
Mark, Chapter 6, Verse 20
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.
Similarities
are to be noted between Jesus and John the Baptist. Herod and Pilate, each in
turn, acknowledges the holiness of life of one over whom he unjustly exercises
the power of condemnation and death. The hatred of Herodias toward John
parallels that of the Jewish leaders toward Jesus. After the deaths of John and
of Jesus, well-disposed persons request the bodies of the victims of Herod and
of Pilate in turn to give them respectful burial.[1]
The
Death of John and the Mission of the Twelve—Two More Stories in One[2]
·
Jesus
sends the twelve disciples out in pairs and grants them an authority—control
over demons. They are permitted a staff, but can carry no bread, purse, or
money. They can wear sandals, but cannot take a second shirt.
·
They're
also supposed to stay in only one person's house for each city. If people do
not receive them or listen to their pitch, they are to shake the dust off of
their feet as they exit the city. With these instructions, the disciples go
forth and proclaim repentance, just as their own teacher Jesus and John the
Baptist before him did. They also exorcize demons and heal the ill just like
their teacher, Jesus. The ever-increasing fame of Jesus draws the attention of
Herod, who ruled over Galilee, but disagreements prevail over Jesus's identity.
·
Some
think Jesus works miracles because he's John the Baptist, who's returned from
the dead, while others think he's the ancient prophet Elijah or another of the
prophets of old, who've returned from the dead. Herod is certain that Jesus is
John the Baptist, whom he had beheaded. Herod is plagued by guilt and is
confident that John is haunting him. The narrator takes this occasion to update
the story of John the Baptist. That John was arrested. John is in prison
because Herod's wife Herodias had a vendetta against John.
·
John
criticized Herod for marrying Herodias, who was previously married to his
brother Philip. This action is contrary to the Torah. Herodias was first
married to another brother of Herod also named Herod, and Herod was not
"king" of Galilee, but tetrarch, which was a title that lacked the
preeminence of "king," even if the actual post guaranteed similar
powers. Anyway, Herod protects John, whom he respects as a religious
leader. He actually enjoys listening to John speak, even though he doesn't
really get what he's saying. An impasse arises between Herodias, who wants John
dead, and Herod, who likes the guy.
·
Herodias
finally makes her move during one of Herod's birthday parties, when all of the
crème de la crème of the political elite were present. Herod's daughter
Herodias danced before all of the guests, who enjoyed some pleasurable dinner
theater.
·
Everyone
is so pleased that Herod repeatedly offers her on oath whatever she wants in
payment, even up to half of his kingdom. The girl exits to confer with her
mother Herodias, who requests the head of John the Baptist. The girl returns to
the banquet, where she requests the head as her mother directed, but with her
own gruesome twist. She wants not only the head, but the head on a platter.
·
Upon
hearing her request Herod grieves—after all, he liked John. Nonetheless,
denying her would embarrass him in front of his guests. Herod orders the
executioner to behead John. The executioner brings the head on a platter and
gives it to the girl, who then gives it to her mother. John's disciples entomb
his headless corpse. After this lengthy flashback, the narrator reports that
the twelve's trip was a big success.
The
Baptist and Christ asks us to not be afraid; remember that those who are
controlled by the devil are always deathly afraid. Therefore, trust in Him and
remember that according to the Talmud God says to us: With thy very
wounds I will heal thee. If you are unhappy it is because of sin therefore seek
the healing that Christ gives in the sacrament of confession and receive
joyfully the Holy Eucharist.
The
drunken oath of a king with a shallow sense of honor, a seductive dance and the
hateful heart of a queen combined to bring about the martyrdom of John the
Baptist. The greatest of prophets suffered the fate of so many Old Testament
prophets before him: rejection and martyrdom. The “voice crying in the desert”
did not hesitate to accuse the guilty, did not hesitate to speak the truth. But
why? What possesses a man that he would give up his very life? This great
religious reformer was sent by God to prepare the people for the Messiah. His
vocation was one of selfless giving. The only power that he claimed was the
Spirit of Yahweh. “I am baptizing you with water, for repentance, but the one
who is coming after me is mightier than I. I am not worthy to carry his
sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire” (Matthew
3:11). Scripture tells us that many people followed John looking to him for
hope, perhaps in anticipation of some great messianic power. John never allowed
himself the false honor of receiving these people for his own glory. He knew
his calling was one of preparation. When the time came, he led his disciples to
Jesus: “The next day John was there again with two of his disciples, and as he
watched Jesus walk by, he said, ‘Behold, the Lamb of God.’ The two disciples
heard what he said and followed Jesus” (John 1:35-37). It is John the
Baptist who has pointed the way to Christ. John’s life and death were a giving
over of self for God and other people. His simple style of life was one of
complete detachment from earthly possessions. His heart was centered on God and
the call that he heard from the Spirit of God speaking to his heart. Confident
of God’s grace, he had the courage to speak words of condemnation, repentance,
and salvation.
Reflection
Each
of us has a calling to which we must
listen. No one will ever repeat the mission of John, and yet all of us are
called to that very mission. It is the role of the Christian to witness to
Jesus. Whatever our position in this world, we are called to be disciples of
Christ. By our words and deeds, others should realize that we live in the joy
of knowing that Jesus is Lord. We do not have to depend upon our own limited
resources but can draw strength from the vastness of Christ’s saving grace.
- Read more
about this feast at Franciscan Media,
CatholicSaints.Info
and A Catholic Life.
- Read this
article, St. John the Baptist:
Martyr for Marriage.
- Watch this
informational video at Gloria TV.
The
International Day against Nuclear Tests seeks to raise awareness about the
negative effects of nuclear weapons and the need to achieve a
nuclear-weapon-free world. The day also serves to educate people everywhere
about the need to ban nuclear weapon tests in order to ensure world safety. Since
the first nuclear test in 1945, over 2,000 nuclear tests have been carried out
and led to accidents, such as the Chernobyl, Ukraine accident of 1986, ending
in tragedy, long-term radiation poisoning and atmospheric damage. International
Day against Nuclear Tests was declared by the United Nations General Assembly in December 2009. It is
observed every year on the 29th of August, a day that commemorates the 1991
closure of the Soviet Semipalatinsk site, the world's largest nuclear testing facility,
in the former Soviet Republic of Kazakhstan.
International Day
against Nuclear Tests Facts & Quotes
·
The
US, the Soviet Union and France have carried out the most nuclear tests over
the past 6 decades, with 1,032, 715 and 210 respectively.
·
The
cost of the Manhattan Project, where the first nuclear bomb was ever built, is
estimated to have cost $20 Billion.
·
The
total number of nuclear missiles built from the year 1951 to the present is
67,500.
·
There
is an estimated total of 16,400 nuclear weapons on Earth today.
·
So
long as nuclear weapons continue to exist, so will the temptation to threaten
others with overwhelming military force. – Daisaku Ikeda, Buddhist philosopher,
educator, author and anti-nuclear activist.
Top Events and
Things to Do
·
Watch
a movie or documentary about nuclear disasters. Some suggestions are: The
Day After (1983), Threads (1984), Trinity and Beyond (1995), Fukushima
Nuclear Disaster and Seconds from Disaster: Meltdown at Chernobyl.
·
Attend
the meeting held by the president of the UN General Assembly by either going to
the event in person or watching the recorded webcast.
·
Read
a book about nuclear issues in the world today. Some suggestions are:
Contesting the Future of Nuclear Power (2011), In Mortal Hands
(2009), and Nuclear or Not? Does Nuclear Power Have a Place in a Sustainable
Energy Future? (2007).
·
Spread
awareness about the day by using the hashtag #InternationalDayAgainstNuclearWeapons,
#notonuclear #againstnucleartests.
Daily Devotions
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