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.

When my kids were little, they had an illustrated children’s Bible that contained the was basically a “best of” the Bible stories—the ones that were easy to imagine, taught a good lesson, or “made for good tv.” John the Baptist shows up a lot. From being the first to announce the coming of the Messiah while still in the womb, to surviving in the wilderness eating honey and locusts, to baptizing Jesus at the start of his public ministry, to his unjust imprisonment and ultimate execution, John is woven throughout our accounts of Jesus’s time on earth.

Today’s Gospel isn’t pretty; it is a cruel and tragic end to the life of a prophet. Comparing two characters, John and Herod, we see both a model of how to live and a cautionary tale against hubris. John is in jail because he spoke out against evil and called people to a higher standard. He is willing to suffer rather than take back what he said. Herod, on the other hand, is called out on his bad behavior and instead of changing his ways, he doubles down and tries to silence the messenger. Then, when he is given the choice between going back on a promise and looking foolish or killing an innocent man, he makes the wrong choice again. 

In our own lives, we may see a combination of John’s and Herod’s behavior. Where are the times that we have bravely spoken out for the truth, regardless of the consequences? When have we let pride, or a desire to look good to others, prevent us from following Jesus more closely? How might we share the good news of Jesus with those we encounter?

—Lauren Gaffey is the director of communication for the Midwest Jesuits and also Works in communications for the Office of Ignatian Spirituality.

O God, who willed that Saint John the Baptist should go ahead of your Son both in his birth and in his death, grant that, as he died a Martyr for truth and justice, we, too, may fight hard for the confession of what you teach. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.

—Collect Prayer for today’s Mass