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Gospel Reading for August 2, 2025 – Matthew 14: 1-12
INSTRUMENTS OF EVIL
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.
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Guilt as a result of having done an injustice to others, especially that of taking the life of someone because the person told a truth we did not want to hear, has a way of running after us. John the Baptist may have died already, but in Herod’s mind, he was raised from the dead when he saw the mighty works of Jesus. Was he trying to appease his guilty conscience that even if he ordered that John be beheaded, it was okay now because after all, John was raised from the dead? Perhaps. Maybe, deep within, he regretted that he ordered John’s beheading because he was distressed having to fulfill a promise, which had he known would cause the beheading of John, maybe, he wouldn’t have done. Well, it was his face, his reputation that was at stake, and it was more important than the life of such a revered prophet, so guilt still ran after him.
It was also the guilt of Herodias being immoral that made her wish for the beheading of John. She thought that with John gone, her immoral act would become moral. Something that is wrong in the eyes of God can never be right. When we make something that is wrong right, it means that we are enabling the devil to spread evil in the world. It means we are allowing ourselves to be INSTRUMENTS OF EVIL.
One thing is for sure: PROPHETS LIVE FOREVER. What they preached and how they lived, will be passed on from generation to generation.
Lord Jesus, may we always have the courage to follow you even in the midst of adversities!
