Bible
Study: 1st Thessalonians 4:9-11 / Mark 6:17-29.
Today, we celebrate a very touching
memorial; the beheading of St. John the Baptist, a man whom Jesus referred to
as the greatest person ever to be born of a woman. “Truly, I say to you, among
those born of women there has risen no one greater than John the Baptist; yet
he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.” Matthew 11:11.
In his greatness, the church celebrates
both his birth and his death in two separate feasts, only very few Saints have
this kind of privilege. While his birth was a thing of joy, his death which we
celebrate today is rather a painful episode that call for sincere examination
of conscience on our part.
1. THE BOASTFUL TALKATIVE.
Was Herod such a coward that he was ready
to do whatever the little girl asked for? Of course, he was bound by the oath he
had taken, but come to think of it, what if she had asked for his own head,
would he also command soldiers to take it off and give it to her?
Anyway, before I condemn Herod, I must
ask myself. Don’t I also make promises without considering the cost? Am I
humble enough to say ‘I am sorry’ when I realize my mistakes? Am I not also
driven by pride and willing to destroy others just to preserve my personal integrity?
Don’t I kill others by committing or consenting to evils such as abortion for
instance just to look ‘good’ before the world?
2. THE SPOILT CHILD.
Even the little girl herself, she had the
guts to carry somebody’s head on a dish to her mum! Was this girl really a
little girl as the story puts it? If she did not scream on seeing the head of
John the Baptist, could it be the case that that wasn’t her first time of
carrying people’s heads?
Again I ask myself, haven’t I also become
so used to sins that my conscience no longer pricks me when I am doing wrong?
What kind of things do I teach my children? Do I show good example to my
younger ones and teach them to fear God and love their neighbors as themselves?
3. THE UNFAITHFUL SPOUSE.
Now for Herodias, what sort of woman
would leave her husband when he is still alive and marry his brother! How come
instead of feeling ashamed for her actions, all she could do was to begin to
plot the death of the only man who was bold enough to tell her the truth?
But I turn to myself and wonder, how
often have I taken correction from others with joy? Are there no persons I have
stopped talking to simply because they told me the truth? Don’t I sometimes
hate those who criticize my actions? Am I a faithful wife or husband? How many
times have I broken my vows shamelessly? How often have I looked lustfully or
committed adultery with someone that is not my wife or my husband?
4. THE DUMB SPECTATORS.
For the guests who were present at the
party, is it the case that none of them had the courage to challenge the king?
Was it the case that they drank so much wine that they lost their senses and
watched how evil played out without even saying anything?
Don’t I see evil and prefer to keep
quiet? Like these guests, do I eat and drink with evil people and therefore
have lost the courage to tell them the truth because of what I am benefitting
from them? Don’t I love to attend parties or go to bear parlours, club houses
or other places where I sit with and drink in company of people with
questionable moral standing?
5. THE QUEST FOR EROTIC ENTERTAINMENT.
By the way, what dance could be so
entertaining as to make one promise anything? Even half the kingdom? Could it
be that it was a nude dance as some Biblical Scholars have suggested?
Well, looking at the music industry today
and seeing how artists are selling millions with all the sexually explicit
dance steps and sexually loaded lyrics as well, it is clear these scholars may
not be far from the truth.
Don’t I dance to music that I know is
entirely against my faith and my beliefs? Don’t I also give away half my
kingdom (of faith) by patronizing such immoral music? Do I prefer to go for
such music simply because it satisfies my desire to see naked people dancing?
6. OBEDIENCE WITHOUT CONSCIENCE.
Again, what sort of guards would be told
go and bring a man’s head and would go without questioning?
Don’t I also carry out orders which I
clearly know are against my faith all in the name of protecting my job? Am I
working for cultists, drug peddlers, armed robbers etc.? Do I treat others
equally and do to them what I would like them to do to me?
CONCLUSION.
It would be very easy to condemn all the
characters involved in this story of the beheading of John the Baptist but what
good will it do, after all, none of them is alive to receive judgment but I can
only imagine how our world would be a better place if we all resolve to stop
beheading John the Baptist by repenting of our evils; repenting of our share in
the continuous perpetration of sin in our world today.
Let us Pray:
GOD OUR FATHER, as we examine our
conscience with this reflection this morning, we beg you to give us the grace
to resolve to live a better life, the courage to speak the truth, the wisdom to
teach our children right, the fear of God to avoid promiscuity, adultery,
immorality etc., the humility to repent of our oaths, and the inspiration to
produce music that overrides worldly music. May we never be so hungry or so
poor as to share of the table of evil people or work in iniquity for sake of
money. This we ask through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Good morning. Be Happy. Have Faith. Live
Positive. It is well with you. Happy Weekend and thanks for your prayers and
patience during this last week. God bless you.
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