August 29, 2022

Passion of St. John the Baptist

Mk 6: 17-29

For 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. For John had been telling Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” And Herodias had a grudge against him, and wanted to kill him. 

But she could not, for 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. But an opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his courtiers and officers and for the leaders of Galilee. When 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.” And he solemnly swore to her, “Whatever you ask me, I will give you, even half of my kingdom.” 

She went out and said to her mother, “What should I ask for?” She replied, “The head of John the baptizer.” Immediately 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.” The king was deeply grieved; yet out of regard for his oaths and for the guests, he did not want to refuse her. Immediately the king sent a soldier of the guard with orders to bring John’s head. 

He went and beheaded him in the prison, brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl. Then the girl gave it to her mother. When his disciples heard about it, they came and took his body, and laid it in a tomb.

New Revised Standard Version, copyright 1989, by the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. USCCB approved.

Humility to Overcome Our Pride

It’s tempting to want to gloss over our mistakes or stand our ground even when we know we are wrong. But making mistakes and being wrong are just part of being human. In today’s Gospel, Herod makes a big mistake. Caught up in the moment, mesmerized by Herodias’s daughter’s dancing, Herod promised the girl, “whatever” she wanted. And when, at her mother’s prompting, she chose “the head of John the baptizer,” Herod acquiesced. Even though he was “perplexed” by John, Herod still “liked to listen to him.” So, why didn’t Herod stop and say, “I was caught up in the moment and being excessive. You can have anything except that!”? The simple answer is pride. Pride is what led Herod to put his “regard for his oaths and for the guests” over the right thing to do. Pride is what keeps us from listening to that little voice that tells us to pause, reconsider, and distance ourselves from that which leads us away from God. 

Today, ask God for the humility to overcome your pride and distance yourself from all that leads you away from God. 

—Jackie Schulte is the Dean of Faculty Formation at Creighton Preparatory School in Omaha, Nebraska. 

 

 

Prayer 

Let me have too deep a sense of humor to be proud.
Let me know my absurdity before I act absurdly.
Let me realize that when I am humble I am most human,
most truthful,
and most worthy of your serious consideration.
Amen

—Daniel A. Lord, S.J.

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