Scripture for
meditation: Jeremiah 1:8
Do not be afraid to face them, for I am with you, says
the Lord.
Scripture for
reflection: Mark 6:17-20
For Herod himself had sent men who arrested John, bound him, and put him in
prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, because Herod had
married her; for John had been telling Herod, ‘It is not lawful for you to have
your brother’s wife.’ And Herodias had a grudge against him, and wanted to kill
him. But she could not, for Herod
feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he protected him.
When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed; and yet he liked to listen to him.
St. Ambrose tells us: We must always meditate on God’s wisdom, keeping
it in our hearts and on our lips. Your tongue must speak justice; the law of
God must be in your heart. Hence Scripture tells you: You shall speak of these commandments when you sit in your house, and
when you walk along the way, and when you lie down, and when you get up. Let
us then speak of the Lord Jesus, for he is wisdom, he is the word, the Word
indeed of God. It is also written: Open your lips, and let God’s work be heard.
God’s word is uttered by those who repeat Christ’s teaching and meditate on his
sayings. Let us always speak this word. When we speak about wisdom, we are speaking
of Christ. When we speak about virtue, we are speaking of Christ. When we speak
about justice, we are speaking of Christ. When we speak about peace, we are
speaking of Christ. When we are speaking of truth, and life, and redemption, we
are speaking of Christ….When you get up or rise again, speak of Christ, as to
fulfill what you are commanded. Listen and learn how Christ is to awaken you
from sleep. Your soul says: I hear my
brother knocking at the door. Then
Christ says to you: Open the door to me,
my sister, my spouse. Listen and learn how you are to awaken Christ. Your
soul says: I charge you, daughters of
Jerusalem, awaken or reawaken the love of my heart. Christ is that love. (Christian Prayer: The Liturgy of the Hours,
Catholic Book Publishing Co., 1976)
Prayer: God our Father, you called John the Baptist to be the herald of your Son’s
birth and death. As he gave his life in witness to truth and justice, so may we
strive to profess our faith in your gospel. Grant this through our Lord Jesus
Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, on God,
forever and ever. Amen. (. (Christian
Prayer: The Liturgy of the Hours, Catholic Book Publishing Co., 1976)
My thoughts: The
amazing part of the John the Baptist story is not so much how he wasn’t afraid
to preach the truth, I think, but that Herod was fascinated by him. Although he
didn’t like what he heard, he still found himself listening to John’s words. He
also feared him, knowing him to be a good and holy man. There is our lesson for
today. Our actions are worthless; our words mean nothing if we are not known to
be good and holy people. John did not earn Herod’s respect by simply standing
in the desert calling people to repent. Herod certainly did not fear him
because he told Herod he was a sinner. In the end, the truth cost John his
life. No, Herod listened to John because he was righteous and holy. No one will
listen to us, or respect us, or even listen to us, if our very lives are not
testimonies to the truth we have inside of our hearts. St. Ambrose tells us
that justice, peace, truth, life and redemption are all Christ. Everything we
say and do must be in His name. If we want to bring love into a hurting world,
we need to be living that love ourselves. John put the truth before his own
needs. It cost him everything. Are we willing to do the same?
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