Trong cuộc sống hiện tại của chúng ta hôm nay, đôi lúc chúng ta cảm thấy như có rất nhiều tiếng nói đang thì thầm trong tâm hồn, trong cuộc sống của chúng ta. Những tiếng đó có thể là những lời khuyên bảo của những người trong gia đình, bạn bè, đồng nghiệp, hay là những tiếng ồn ào của các loa phóng thanh của ban văn hóa địa phương, Hay là những tiếng lải nhải trong TV…. Tuy nhiên, để biết hay nhận ra được tiếng của Chúa Kitô đang thì thầm, tâm sự với chúng ta thì thật là rất khó.
Trong bài Tin Mừng hôm nay, chúng ta nhận thấy là mặc dù Vua Hêrôđê nhận biết là thánh Gioan tẩy giả là một người tốt lành và thánh thiện. Hơn nữa, Thánh Gioan tẩy giả cũng đã hấp dẫn thu hút vua Hêrôđê bằng những bài giảng của ông. Tuy nhiên, vì ông là vua, ông ta đã vì lo sợ phải xấu hổ trước mặt quan khách của mình, và cũng chỉ vì một đứa con gái, một chút yếu lòng mà ông đã phải giết đi một người công chính, đáng kính như thánh Gioan tẩy Giả. Vua Herôdê đã cúi đầu sợ hãi trước những áp lực của xã hội, và cũng muốn tỏ cái uy quyền, cái Tôi của chính mình. Vì thế ông đã nghe và làm theo cái tiếng nói của sự háu danh, ham thắng, của sự sợ hãi và ích kỷ mà đã không còn nghe thấy được những tiếng của lẽ phải, của Thiên Chúa..
Một cách để chúng ta có thể xác định được tiếng nói của Chúa Kitô trong tâm hồn và trong cuộc sống của chúng ta là khi chúng ta có được cảm giác an lành, bình tâm trong lòng hay trong tâm hồn của chúng ta, ngay cả những việc mà hầu như không phải là dễ dàng cho việc xử trí của chúng ta..
Lạy Chúa, xin ban cho chúng con những ân sủng của Chúa Thánh Thần để chúng con có nhận ra tiếng nói của Chúa đang nói với chúng ta trong cuộc sống của chúng con và giúp chúng con có được can đảm để làm theo như thánh ý của Chúa.
The life of David is quite remarkable. Lots of things happened to him and because of his choices. How we remember David depends a lot upon the events upon which we focus our lens. Do we remember him as a shepherd boy? Do we note his friendship with Jonathon? His victory with a sling and a stone over the mighty warrior Goliath? His refusal to kill King Saul when he had Saul at his mercy? His singing and dancing before the Lord? His adultery? The arranged death of Uriah? His mourning of Bathsheba’s child? The rebellion of his son Absalom and David's grief at his death? How do we choose to remember this complex man, King David?
John the Baptist and King Herod are likewise complex characters. John seems to have been a person prone to the extreme and Herod a leader without a spine. But we really know so little about either of them. Really we've just snippets from which we have formed our opinions of them. Perhaps the lesson of the scriptures this day is to be careful about the judgments we make about Biblical characters or the people with whom we interact.
We choose to honor David, to rue the cowardice of Herod, to delight in the dancing skill of Salome and to mourn the untimely death of John the Baptist. The Gospels offer us a window into snippets of the life and ministry of Jesus. Our task as disciples is to delve deeper and really get to know Jesus and become known to him. Lord, be my wisdom.
When a person sins seriously and refuses to repent, the damaging effects of that sin deepen over time, creating spiritual blindness and unrest. In contrast, repentance not only brings forgiveness, it allows God to transform the wounds of sin into instruments of grace, using even our failures for His glory.
Herod is a prime example of how obstinacy magnifies the damage caused by sin. The first paragraph of today’s Gospel takes place some time after Herod executed John. The rest of the Gospel recounts how Herod was manipulated into beheading John by Herodias, his illegitimate wife, and her daughter. While much could be said about John’s execution and the good fruit borne by his ultimate testimony to the Truth, it is also helpful to reflect on Herod’s pitiful state to learn from his failure in order to avoid a similar response to sin.
As soon as Jesus was baptized by John in the Jordan River, John’s ministry began to decrease, as he himself acknowledged: “He must increase; I must decrease” (John 3:30). John’s mission was one of preparation for the Messiah, calling people to repentance and pointing to the One who would bring salvation. Once Jesus began His public ministry, John’s work was complete, and God permitted his arrest by Herod so that his martyrdom could become his greatest witness to Christ.
Jesus’ ministry was markedly different from John’s. While John preached repentance and fearlessly rebuked Herod for his sinful relationship, Jesus’ public ministry was marked not only by authoritative teaching but also by miraculous signs, including healings and even raising the dead. His fame spread quickly, reaching even Herod.
When Herod heard about Jesus, he irrationally concluded that Jesus was John the Baptist raised from the dead. This reaction reveals Herod’s inner turmoil. His erroneous belief was not borne of faith but of the torment of a guilty conscience. Herod had killed a holy man. His unresolved guilt blinded him to this truth and distorted his perception of Jesus, preventing him from recognizing the Messiah.
Herod’s tragic story reveals the universal danger of unrepentant sin, offering us a lesson about the destructive power of guilt and the healing grace of repentance. Unrepentant sin not only leads to further sin but also causes irrational thinking, fear, and paranoia. His guilt interfered with his ability to think clearly and rationally—not only about Jesus but likely about many other aspects of his life.
Similarly, when we fall into serious sin, we are faced with two paths: repentance or obstinacy. Repentance opens the door to God’s mercy, healing, and transformation. Through His grace, this path not only sets us free but also forms virtue within us and opens us to the spiritual gift of wisdom. Obstinacy, on the other hand, leaves us in spiritual unrest, deepening the wounds of sin. That path leads to self-destructive irrationality, confusion, and blindness.
Reflect today on the importance of sincere and total repentance for past sins. Though difficult, an honest assessment of our sins and sincere repentance is the path to immediate freedom and eternal glory. We must understand and believe in the power of repentance. When we fall into sin, we must have the courage to face it, own it, and seek God’s mercy. Learn from Herod by rejecting his example, and allow God’s mercy to flood your life, eliminating the effects of a guilty conscience and leading you to peace and freedom.
Most merciful Lord, I come before You as a sinner in need of Your infinite mercy. Free me from the spiritual blindness and obstinacy that prevent me from fully opening my heart to You. Grant me the courage to confess my guilt without fear, so that I may receive the forgiveness only You can give. By Your grace, transform my past sins into opportunities for Your glory, and turn my guilt into virtue through the gifts of Your Holy Spirit. Jesus, I trust in You.
Opening Prayer: Lord God, as I contemplate the martyrdom of John the Baptist, inspire me to be fearless in proclaiming the truth of the Gospel to all those I encounter. Do not let me put the light of Christ within me under a bushel basket. Move me to let the light shine forth in all I do and say today.
1. John the Baptist: The Gospel of Mark began with the figure of John the Baptist. And now, Mark brings the story of John the Baptist to its conclusion. The reason why Mark tells the story of the martyrdom of John the Baptist while the Apostles are out on mission is to anticipate the end of his Gospel, which narrates the passion of Jesus and the sending out of the Apostles to proclaim the Gospel to the entire world. John’s death foreshadows Jesus’ death. “With this parallel Mark suggests that John’s self-offering shares, in a hidden way, in the spiritual fruitfulness of the sacrifice of Christ” (Healy, The Gospel of Mark, 118).
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. Mark 6:20
Ideally, when the Gospel is preached and received by another, the effect is that the receiver is filled with joy, consolation and a desire to change. The Gospel is transforming for those who truly listen and respond with generosity. But what about those who do not respond with generosity? What effect does the Gospel have upon them? Our Gospel today gives us that answer.
The line above comes from the story of the beheading of Saint John the Baptist. The bad actors in this story are Herod, Herod’s illegitimate wife Herodias, and Herodias’ daughter (traditionally named Salome). John had been imprisoned by Herod because John told Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” But what’s most interesting about this story is that, even in prison, Herod would listen to John preach. But instead of leading Herod to conversion, he was left “perplexed” by what John preached.
Being “perplexed” was not the only reaction to John’s preaching. Herodias’ reaction was one of hatred. She appeared to be stung to the heart by John’s condemnation of her “marriage” to Herod, and it was she who then orchestrated John’s beheading.
This Gospel, then, teaches us of two other common reactions to the Truth of the holy Gospel when it is preached. One is hatred and another is confusion (being perplexed). Obviously, hatred is far worse than simply being perplexed. But neither is the right reaction to the words of Truth.
What is your reaction to the full Gospel when it is preached? Are there aspects of the Gospel that leave you uneasy? Are there teachings of our Lord that confuse you or lead you to anger? First look within your own heart to determine if you struggle with having a similar reaction as did Herod and Herodias. And then consider how the world reacts to the Truth of the Gospel. We should not be surprised at all that we find many Herods and Herodiases alive today.
Reflect, today, upon any ways that you see the Gospel being rejected on one level or another. If you sense this within your own heart, then repent with all your might. If you see it elsewhere, do not allow the hostility to shake you or concern you. Keep your mind and heart upon the Truth and remain steadfast no matter the reaction you encounter.
My Lord of all Truth, Your Word and Your Word alone brings grace and salvation. Please give me the grace I need to always listen to Your Word and to respond generously with all my heart. May I repent when I am convicted by Your Word and may I wholeheartedly return to You. Give me courage when others reject Your Truth and wisdom to know how to share that Word with love. Jesus, I trust in You.
1. The Persecution of the Old Elijah: The passion and death of John the Baptist in the New Testament echoes the persecution of Elijah in the Old Testament. Ahab, the king of northern Israel, and his Queen Jezebel persecuted Elijah and sought to kill him. In the Gospel, Herod Antipas and his wife, Herodias, persecuted John the Baptist. Just as Jezebel tempted her weak-willed husband, Ahab, toward pagan religious practices, Herodias tempted her weak-willed husband, Herod, by having her daughter seductively dance for him. Just as Jezebel was the one who wanted to murder Elijah, Herodias was the one who wanted to murder John.
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