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| “ Beheading of Saint John the Baptist” (detail) by Caravaggio, 1608 |
Note: for this memorial, the Gospel from the proper of the saint is used.
Reading 1: 1 Thessalonians 2:1-8
You yourselves know, brothers
and sisters,
that our reception among you
was not without effect.
Rather, after we had suffered
and been insolently treated,
as you know, in Philippi ,
we drew courage through our
God
to speak to you the Gospel of
God with much struggle.
Our exhortation was not from
delusion or impure motives,
nor did it work through
deception.
But as we were judged worthy
by God to be entrusted with the Gospel,
that is how we speak,
not as trying to please men,
but rather God, who judges
our hearts.
Nor, indeed, did we ever
appear with flattering speech, as you know,
or with a pretext for
greed–God is witness–
nor did we seek praise from
men,
either from you or from
others,
although we were able to
impose our weight as Apostles of Christ.
Rather, we were gentle among
you,
as a nursing mother cares for
her children.
With such affection for you,
we were determined to share with you
not only the Gospel of God,
but our very selves as well,
so dearly beloved had you
become to us.
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Commentary on 1 Thes 2:1-8
The Apostle
reminds the Thessalonians that, in his own experience, proclaiming the Word of
God has caused turmoil and even persecution as he refers to his visit to
Philippi (see Acts 16:19-40). St. Paul
emphasizes both the content of the Gospel message and the need to present it gently,
with full sincerity. He concludes this selection reminding them of the deep
affection with which he holds them.
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Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 139:1-3, 4-6
R. (1) You have searched me and you know me, Lord.
O LORD, you have probed me
and you know me;
you know when I sit and when
I stand;
you understand my thoughts
from afar.
My journeys and my rest you
scrutinize,
with all my ways you are
familiar.
R. You have searched me
and you know me, Lord
Even before a word is on my
tongue,
behold, O LORD, you know the
whole of it.
Behind me and before, you hem
me in
and rest your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too
wonderful for me;
too lofty for me to attain.
R. You have searched me
and you know me, Lord.
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Commentary on Ps 139:1-3, 4-6
Psalm 139 is a
hymn of meditation upon God’s presence in our lives. The selection carries the
awe felt by the singer, that the Most
High God, one so great, could love one so insignificant.
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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's
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'.
Both
Herod and Pilot 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 continue to marvel at God’s plan
for us as we are given the end of St. John the Baptist. From the womb he was
chosen to be a forerunner of Jesus Christ. He was the one predicted by the
prophets – the new Elijah who prepared the way for Jesus’ mission on earth –
the ultimate revelation of God in human flesh. He preceded Jesus in life, in
ministry, and, as we see in Mark’s Gospel, in his death at the hands of those
he invited to repent and return to the path to God’s Kingdom.
In his martyrdom St. John the
Baptist shared in Christ’s victory. Victory? One might think that being
beheaded by a lecherous, hedonistic, and sadistic ruler like Herod was not a
victory. Yet, as St. Paul points out in his First Letter to the Corinthians,
Jesus used the cross to redefine victory. His death became a defeat for death,
for all those who lay aside the wisdom of the world and have faith.
And what practical lesson do we
take away from this “redefinition,” this incredible act that defies the wisdom
of the world, and changes the perspective of those struggling to know God?
First, with intense humility, we thank God for giving us the faith needed to
understand how his love expressed itself through the sacrifice of his Son,
foreshadowed by St. John’s own death. We see in the events that unfold in the
Gospel that we must not expect the world to welcome the love we offer as
followers of Christ. We know Jesus obediently followed St. John in death
at the hands of his captors.
We thank God for the examples of
St. John the Baptist and all the Saints who have gone before us in faith, for
their examples of heroic fidelity to the Lord, and their unswerving dedication
to passing on the message they were given. We pray today that our own examples
of faith will give encouragement to our brothers and sisters who, like St.
John, are persecuted for their faith, and demonstrate for those who have not
heard the Lord’s call that his hand is outstretched to them as well.
Pax
[2]
The picture is The picture is “ Beheading of Saint John the Baptist” (detail)
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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