February 4, 2022 - Friday

4th Week in Ordinary Time

Gospel: Mk 6:14-29 

14King Herod heard of Jesus for his name had become known. Some  were saying, “John the baptizer has been raised from the dead; and  for this reason these powers are at work in him.” 15But others said, “It  is Elijah.” And others said, “It is a prophet, like one of the prophets of  old.” 16But when Herod heard of it, he said, “John, whom I beheaded,  has been raised.” 17For 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. 18For John had been  telling Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.”  19And Herodias had a grudge against him, and wanted to kill him.  But she could not, 20for 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. 21 But an opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his courtiers and officers and for the leaders of Galilee. 22When his  daughter Herodias*  came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his  guests; and the king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever you wish,  and I will give it.” 23And he solemnly swore to her, “Whatever you  ask me, I will give you, even half of my kingdom.” 24She went out and  said to her mother, “What should I ask for?” She replied, “The head  of John the baptizer.” 25Immediately she rushed back to the king and  requested, “I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist  on a platter.” 26The king was deeply grieved; yet out of regard for his oaths and for the guests, he did not want to refuse her. 27Immediately  the king sent a soldier of the guard with orders to bring John’s head.  He went and beheaded him in the prison, 28brought his head on a  platter, and gave it to the girl. Then the girl gave it to her mother.  29When his disciples heard about it, they came and took his body, and laid it in a tomb. 

The circumstances that lead to the beheading of John the  Baptist appear senseless. But by their very senselessness,  they unmask the manipulative works of those who fear the truth and whose only way to silence its voice is to kill its herald.  John’s violent death in the hands of those who possess worldly powers but fear the truth, foreshadows the way the Messiah himself will meet his end. But the worldly powers deceive themselves in thinking that they can silence the truth. For the death of both the prophet-of-truth and Truth-in-person become the culmination and crowning glory of their mission. By dying, they unmask the deceptive agenda of those who resort to violence to silence the truth. But truth itself is indestructible, for it is of the essence of God.

 Lord Jesus, grant us an unfailing commitment to you, who are Truth in person. Amen.