Fr. Eric Nicolai preaches about the dramatic account of the beheading of Saint John the Baptist and the situation in Herod's royal court. Herod’s banquet. The decadent and sensual atmosphere. The trendy people. Yet John defended the truth,  telling it plainly to those who needed to hear it. John was not a whiner or complainer. He was tough. An example to help us defend the truth to our friends.

The painting is from Andrea Solario, "Salome with the head John Baptist (1506) in the  Metropolitan Museum of Art. The introductory aria is from Handel guitar piece, by Bert Alink Rinaldo:  Aria "Lascia che io pianga".