Reflection
1 Corinthians 1:1-9
Psalm 145
Mark 6:17-29
Today we celebrate the Memorial of the Passion of St. John the Baptist. Jesus had some pretty impressive words to say about John the Baptist in Matthew 11:11: “Amen, I say to you, among those born of women there has been none greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.” Pretty good reason to celebrate a Memorial.
There are several interesting elements to our gospel today. One is that Herod, who was a miserable leader and set out to make his territorial kingdom bigger at the expense of his brothers, still had a fascination with John the Baptist. Herod liked to listen to John but Herod could not get beyond his own desire for wealth, land, fame, and self-gratification. That was diametrically opposed to the teachings of John.
John was strong of character even in the face of certain destruction. He told Herod what Herod did not want to hear, it was not right for Herod to get too friendly with his brother’s wife. We are called to exactly that way of living our lives. We are called to do the right thing even when it means we may be insulted, ridiculed or ostracized.
There are things in this world that are great and fantastically wonderful in the way they lead us to God. And there are things that are sinister, destructive, and sometimes downright satanic. In the face of a moment being confronted by the icky stuff, we need not fear. God is always bigger than the boogey man, He’s bigger than Godzilla or the monsters on TV…to quote Veggie Tales. Let’s place our trust in God and be proud that we have done so!
It is a great day! Go smile at God today!