Aug 29: Memorial of the Passion of Saint John the Baptist

Aug 28: Memorial of the Passion of Saint John the Baptist

Usually, we celebrate the memorial of a saint’s passing on, you know, the day they died. But John the Baptist is ever the weirdo, even in death.

He was executed around Passover, the year before Jesus. But his head was lost for some time, until it was finally re-discovered in Syria many centuries later. So, we’re not so much commemorating his beheading as his re-heading.

Reading 1

1 Thes 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.

Paul is not unduly proud to have been chosen worthy to spread the Gospel. He and his companies were treated badly in Philippi, but kept going. Rather than respond in kind, they remained gentle as nursemaids.

But! That doesn’t mean that they’ll flatter their audience or grift for money. Paul was able to persevere because he didn’t care what people thought of him, either good or ill. He cared what God thought.

Responsorial Psalm

Ps 139:1-3, 4-6

R. 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.

God knows us better than we know ourselves. He knows what we’re going to say and do before we say or do it; He knows when we do the right thing for the wrong reason, or the other way around.

But that’s not a threat, it’s a comfort. Just like a parent loves their child before the baby is even aware of the world, God knows us and loves us anyway, despite our flaws and because of our best efforts, always.

Alleluia

Mt 5:10

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Blessed are those who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness,
for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

You won’t always be rewarded for doing the right thing; in fact, sometimes you’ll be rewarded for doing the wrong thing, as Herod found out. But that reward is temporal; we must keep our eyes on the kingdom of heaven.

Gospel

Mk 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.

Herod isn’t concerned with honor; he’s worried about the high esteem of others. It’s easy, and very human, to confuse those two.

We should instead be concerned with what God wants us to do. It’s not a 100% perfect rubric, but if the world is against you for doing something, it’s probably because it’s the right thing and they don’t want to hear it. Then you’re “persecuted for the sake of righteousness.”