Like the prophets of old, John the Baptist is zealous for the word of God. He does not allow a person’s status to becloud his judgment and so denounces Herod Antipas and Herodias for their adulterous union.

Herod does not like John because, unlike his selfserving courtiers, John tells him off. But he admires John’s integrity and something in him aches for John’s virtue. He is, however, a slave to his own passion for Herodias and to his privileged existence.

In letting John be executed, Herod also lets his better nature be killed. John the Baptist proves himself to be like Jesus who does not regard a person’s status but teaches the way of God in accordance with the truth (Mk 12:14).

Are we like John who stands by his principle, to “respect no man” when our principles are at stake? Or are we ready to compromise in the face of strong opposition?

It is said that our conscience is God’s built-in warning sign in our person. We should be glad if it sounds an alarm if we plan to do evil.

We should, however, be alarmed if our conscience no longer bothers us because we have become inured to our sins and failings.

Gospel • Mark 6:17-29

[or Mt 25:14-30]

Herod was the one who had John 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’s 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.

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.