Memorial of the Martyrdom of Saint John the Baptist

“The Beheading of John the Baptist”
by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo, 1732-33

(Monday of the Twenty-Second Week in Ordinary Time)

Alternate Proper for the Memorial of the Martyrdom of St. John the Baptist

Readings for Monday of the Twenty-Second Week in Ordinary Time[1][2]

Readings from the Jerusalem Bible

Readings and Commentary:[3]

Note: on this feast day the Gospel from the Proper is Proper.

Reading 1: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

We do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters,

about those who have fallen asleep,

so that you may not grieve like the rest, who have no hope.

For if we believe that Jesus died and rose,

so too will God, through Jesus,

bring with him those who have fallen asleep.

Indeed, we tell you this, on the word of the Lord,

that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord,

will surely not precede those who have fallen asleep.

For the Lord himself, with a word of command,

with the voice of an archangel and with the trumpet of God,

will come down from heaven,

and the dead in Christ will rise first.

Then we who are alive, who are left,

will be caught up together with them in the clouds

to meet the Lord in the air.

Thus we shall always be with the Lord.

Therefore, console one another with these words.

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Commentary on 1 Thes 4:13-18

This passage from St. Paul’s First Letter to the Thessalonians reassures the Church at Thessalonica that those who have already passed from this life to the next will not be forgotten in the resurrection that will take place at the second coming of Christ.  Rather they will be raised with him – first.  Then those faithful followers still alive will be taken up to heaven.

It is important to understand, when reading this passage that it is clear St. Paul expected the Parousia – the second coming, to occur during his own lifetime.  This passage would emphasize the need for preparedness and vigilance, a common theme in the Gospels published later.

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Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 96:1 and 3, 4-5, 11-12, 13

R. (13b) The Lord comes to judge the earth.

Sing to the LORD a new song;

sing to the LORD, all you lands.

Tell his glory among the nations;

among all peoples, his wondrous deeds.

R. The Lord comes to judge the earth.

For great is the LORD and highly to be praised;

awesome is he, beyond all gods.

For all the gods of the nations are things of nought,

but the LORD made the heavens.

R. The Lord comes to judge the earth.

Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice;

let the sea and what fills it resound;

let the plains be joyful and all that is in them!

Then shall all the trees of the forest exult.

R. The Lord comes to judge the earth.

Before the LORD, for he comes;

for he comes to rule the earth.

He shall rule the world with justice

and the peoples with his constancy.

R. The Lord comes to judge the earth.

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Commentary on Ps 96:1 and 3, 4-5, 11-12, 13

This song of praise exhorts the people to praise the Lord for his wondrous works of creation.  The reason for this exhortation is that God will come to rule the earth with his justice.  In this passage we see the forerunner of the understanding of the New Jerusalem – the Heavenly Kingdom.

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Gospel: Mark 6:17-29

Herod was the one who had John the Baptist 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.

She 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.

Herodias’ 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?”

She 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.

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Commentary on Mk 6:17-29

The story of St. John the Baptist life from St. Mark’s Gospel gives a concise picture of St. John’s end. Especially here we note the similarities between the passing of St. John and the passion of Jesus in Mark 15:1-47 . The rationale in both cases was the anger and guilt felt at the truth proclaimed; in the case of John the guilt of Herodias, in the case of Jesus, the Jewish leaders.

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Reflection:

What a crushing blow the death of St. John the Baptist was to Jesus as well as his own disciples.  The Voice as he is frequently called, having completed all that God had asked from him preceded Jesus in death as he had preceded him in all things except holiness.

The Baptist came into the world, a promise from God, predicted by the prophets – the voice crying out in the wilderness; calling God’s creation to prepare for the coming of his great gift, the Messiah. He cried out as did the prophets out of whose mold he was created, fearlessly and unceasingly decrying the sinful nature of humankind.  Also like the prophets he pointed at the sins of the powerful and for speaking the truth, he gained the hatred of Herodias who ultimately found a means to engineer his execution.

How cruel that blow was to Jesus.  We are told in St. Matthew’s Gospel * When Jesus heard of it, he withdrew in a boat to a deserted place by himself.” (Matthew 14:13).  He testified on several occasions what a great man he was and we know of his familial relationship.  Yet St. John himself recognized his role in God’s great plan and in his famous profession (John 3 25-36) said “The one who has the bride is the bridegroom; the best man, who stands and listens for him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom's voice. So this joy of mine has been made complete. He must increase; I must decrease.”

St. John’s martyrdom reminds us of his great love for God and for our Lord, Jesus.  His steadfast faith, fearlessly crying out to those on a path to death calls to us as well.  He reminds us that social justice is not God’s justice and social morals are not our morals.  What is acceptable under secular law is not necessarily acceptable under the higher calling to which we are called.  With all of the voices of the saints whispering in our ears, St. John the Baptist, the Voice, calls loudest; “‘prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths.”(Luke 3:4)

Pax

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[1] ALTRE

[2] The picture is “The Beheading of John the Baptist” by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo, 1732-33

[3] The readings are taken from the New American Bible with the exception of the Psalm and its response which were developed by the International Committee for English in Liturgy (ICEL). This re-publication is not authorized by USCCB and is for private use only.