Feast of John the Baptist, Martyr, August 24, 2006

Scripture: Jeremiah 1:17-19. Psalm 71:1-6,15-17. Mark 6:17-29

Jesus proclaimed John the Baptist as the greatest among those born ( "Truly, I tell you, among those born of women no one has arisen greater than John the Baptist" Matthew 11:11). This is also seen in our liturgical celebration of two feasts dedicated to him; one for his birth on June 24, and the second in honor of his martyrdom, Aug.28th. I believe only the Mother of Jesus and Jesus himself have such commemorations of birth and death in the liturgy.

Today we read the earliest historical narrative about his beheading in Mark. The account is so vivid and ghastly that I am moved by it each time I read it or ponder it over. Matthew and Luke also have an account of it based on Mark. Josephus who writes after the Evangelists describes his death as a result of political fear and dread of losing power to this prophet. We are speaking of the weak willed pleaser named Herod Antipas who caves in to his audience and to the request of an immoral woman and her sensuous daughter. I believe that the moral issue raised by John the Baptist is the one that led to his death more than Josephus' political and power proposal for his martyrdom.

Sadness and depression accompany me when I think of this scene and how corrupt leadership can become because of human respect and lack of integrity. Bad judgment enters the picture as well. Undoubtedly, it is Mark's ability with graphic description that stirs me to anger and disappointment because of the tetrach's decision. John the Baptist is the righteous and holy one who emerges from this gathering of Herod. John is the hero of this narrative. He is also a model for us through his role as witness to the Lamb of God, his preaching of repentance through a form of baptism, his prophetic message, and his heralding of the coming of the Messiah. It is fitting that we honor both his birth and his death.

Today I am led to pray that God inspires our leaders to make good decisions about the common good and the welfare of people. I pray that teachers and preachers present as John did the truth to their listeners and that they live out what they teach and preach to others. I pray for each one of us that we be open to serving one another, to learning how to live with one another, and to lead in the areas of our ministries and responsibilities. We can look to the example and the inspiration of today's hero, John the Baptist. Amen.