We often revel in mystery or the fantastic, not in particularity or ordinariness or in something too familiar. But actually if we are only willing to look closely, we can discover extraordinariness in the ordinary.

St. Joseph was indeed an “ordinary” carpenter in the eyes of many of his time. But as a carpenter, he could have been also extraordinary in his skills, and most of all, in the type of person that he was. Did the religious authorities really know him truly?

If they did, they would have seen his true value. St. Ignatius of Loyola, whose feast we celebrate today, was also an ordinary knight-servant to the Spanish king, but he allowed himself to be transformed by God’s extraordinary grace so that he could also dream “greater” things for God. As a matter of fact, there are many things in life that seem to be so ordinary. But if we look closely or examine them carefully, we discover how extraordinary they really are. We, too, may seem ordinary to people around us, even to our own selves. But have we tried to look deeply into ourselves to discover the extraordinary within us? After all, we were created in the image of the Omnipotent and the most extraordinary Being that exists, to say the least.

Gospel • Matthew 14:1-12

Herod the tetrarch heard of the reputation of Jesus and said to his servants, “This man is John the Baptist. He has been raised from the dead; that is why mighty powers are at work in him.” Now Herod had arrested John, bound him, and put him in prison on account of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip, for John had said to him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.”

Although he wanted to kill him, he feared the people, for they regarded him as a prophet. But at a birthday celebration for Herod, the daughter of Herodias performed a dance before the guests and delighted Herod so much that he swore to give her whatever she might ask for. Prompted by her mother, she said, “Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist.”

The king was distressed, but because of his oaths and the guests who were present, he ordered that it be given, and he had John beheaded in the prison. His head was brought in on a platter and given to the girl, who took it to her mother. His disciples came and took away the corpse and buried him; and they went and told Jesus.

Source: “365 Days with the Lord 2026,” St. Paul’s, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.