Optional Memorial of Saint
Ansgar, Bishop
Optional Memorial of Saint
Blaise, Bishop, Martyr
Proper for the Memorial of St. Ansgar
Proper for the Memorial of St. Ansgar
 |
| “Beheading of Saint John the Baptist” by Caravaggio, 1608 |
Readings and Commentary:[3]
Reading 1: Hebrews
13:1-8
Let brotherly love continue.
Do not neglect hospitality,
for through it some have
unknowingly entertained angels.
Be mindful of prisoners as if
sharing their imprisonment,
and of the ill-treated as of
yourselves,
for you also are in the body.
Let marriage be honored among
all
and the marriage bed be kept
undefiled,
for God will judge the
immoral and adulterers.
Let your life be free from
love of money
but be content with what you
have,
for he has said, I will never
forsake you or abandon you.
Thus we may say with
confidence:
The Lord is my helper,
and I will not be afraid.
What can anyone do to me?
Remember your leaders who
spoke the word of God to you.
Consider the outcome of their
way of life and imitate their faith.
Jesus Christ is the same
yesterday, today, and forever.
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Commentary on Heb 13:1-8
In this selection from Hebrews,
the author turns from social and moral topics to doctrine. The community is
reminded of the requirements of their faith, especially hospitality. In this
passage: “…through it some have unknowingly entertained angels (v.
2),” a clear reference is made to Abraham’s encounter (Genesis 18: 1-5), and
Tobit’s meeting with Raphael (Tobit 5:4-9). Following the
exhortation to remain unified, and cling to the Christian values of morality
and generosity, the author assures them of God’s presence with them. And even
though their original leaders have passed away, Jesus Christ is unchanging: “Jesus
Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.”
CCC: Heb 13:3 2447
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Responsorial Psalm: Psalm
27:1, 3, 5, 8b-9abc
R. (1a) The Lord is my light and my salvation.
The LORD is my light and my
salvation;
whom should I fear?
The LORD is my life's refuge;
of whom should I be afraid?
R. The Lord is my light and my salvation.
Though an army encamp against
me,
my heart will not fear;
Though war be waged upon me,
even then will I trust.
R. The Lord is my light and my salvation.
For he will hide me in his
abode
in the day of trouble;
He will conceal me in the
shelter of his tent,
he will set me high upon a
rock.
R. The Lord is my light and my salvation.
Your presence, O LORD, I
seek.
Hide not your face from me;
do not in anger repel your
servant.
You are my helper: cast me
not off.
R. The Lord is my light and my salvation.
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Commentary on Ps 27:1, 3, 5, 8b-9abc
Psalm 27 is a hymn of praise with
two distinct parts. This passage captures the two major themes of the song,
hope in God’s mercy and complete trust in his goodness.
CCC: Ps 27:8 2730
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Gospel: Mark
6:14-29
King Herod heard about Jesus,
for his fame had become widespread,
and people were saying,
"John the Baptist has
been raised from the dead;
That is why mighty powers are
at work in him."
Others were saying, "He
is Elijah";
still others, "He is a
prophet like any of the prophets."
But when Herod learned of it,
he said,
"It is John whom I beheaded.
He has been raised up."
Herod was the one who had
John 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.
Herodias 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.
His 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?"
Her mother 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 6:14-29
Mark’s account of the capture and
execution of St. John the Baptist is presented in this pericope, or excerpt. We
note the story has many similarities with Jesus’ encounter with Pilate later in
the Gospel (Mark 15:1-47). Both
Herod and Pilate acknowledge the holiness of the ones they are to put to death.
In both cases following the executions, faithful followers insure the body is
given a respectful burial. St. Matthew’s Gospel gives a more complete
introduction of Herod and Herodias (see Matthew 14:1-3). The
actual account presented here is done as a flashback, as Herod questions the
identity of Jesus whose disciples have just been sent into his region with
great authority.
CCC: Mk 6:17-29 523
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Reflection:
We are given the story of the
execution of St. John the Baptist to contemplate in the Gospel, and recall how
the great “Voice” faithfully played his role to the very end. He prefigured Christ from his birth, and now
decreases so the Lord might increase (John
3:30). For us, his death points to the passion of
Christ who, like St. John, is subjected to human cruelty and ultimate death on
the cross. Unlike the “Voice,” the
“Word” continues; we are adopted in his sacrifice and become heirs to the joys
and sorrows of the path to the Father.
The author of Hebrews reminds
us of that legacy of faith and obedience.
He speaks to the Hebrew audience, whose original leaders have died, to
be faithful to the example they provided. They have held true to the core of
Christian teaching, which has faith, hope and love at its heart. And even as we reflect upon the Hebrews
message, we realize that all those who first read this letter have also passed on,
as did those to whom the ancient text was handed on.
So many have gone before us
in faith. We feel the weight of their
gaze upon us as we struggle to follow their examples (today we feel Sts. Ansgar
and Blaise especially). It is this very
sense of historical tradition that gives us added strength. Like a child doing their best to make their
parents proud, even though their mother and father have passed away. We accept the scrutiny of our predecessors as
righteous encouragement, and rededicate ourselves to living lives that will
tell all those who meet us that the lineage from which we come has its roots in
Christ. Indeed our actions should mark
us clearly as belonging to him.
Today we pray once more for
the strength to carry the message of love into the world. Our hope is that when we retire this evening
we can return the loving gaze of those saints and angels who watch over us with
a sense of oneness, having done this day as they would have done in our place.
Pax
[1]
The picture is “Beheading of Saint John the Baptist” by Caravaggio, 1608
[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.
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