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Gospel Reading for February 7, 2025 – Mark 6: 14-29
COWARDICE
King Herod heard about Jesus, for his fame had become widespread, and people were saying, “John the Baptist has been raised from the dead; That is why mighty powers are at work in him.” Others were saying, “He is Elijah”; still others, “He is a prophet like any of the prophets.” But when Herod learned of it, he said, “It is John whom I beheaded. He has been raised up.” 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.
Herodias 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. His 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?” Her mother 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.
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How gruesome it must have been to see the head of John the Baptist on a platter, the head of a revered man, all because of the COWARDICE of Herod to renege on his oath which he knew would bring injustice to John. He found it better to do a grave injustice in order to save face. In the first place, he shouldn’t have made an oath just because of a delightful dance of a girl, so fantastic that it was too much to fulfill!
We have to remember when taking oaths that it is a SERIOUS MATTER. Take for example, the Hippocratic Oath taken by doctors, a portion of which states: “I will use my power to help the sick to the best of my ability and judgment. I will abstain from harming or wrong doing any man by it. I will not give a fatal draught to anyone if I am asked, nor will I suggest any such thing. Neither will I give a woman means to procure an abortion . . .” The proponents of Euthanasia and Abortion do not give importance to this oath in violation of the 5th Commandment. Breaking such oath itself, is also in violation of the 2nd Commandment.
Lord, may your Spirit be always our guide when making decisions in life, and bear in mind that what’s wrong cannot be corrected with another wrong!
