Beheading of John the Baptist

Title: Continuing the Prophetic Witness

Date: Monday, August 29, 1988 - Beheading of John the Baptist

Readings: Jeremiah 1:17-19 / Psalm 71:1-2;3-4;5-6;15;17 / Mark 6:17-29

Living in an age where so many teenage girls crave things like stereos and tv's, records, clothes, and jewelry -- this figure of Herodius' daughter is a peculiar one -- she wants the head of John the Baptist. I suppose times do change, even if just the externals, but the old rivalries are still with us.

In yesterday's Gospel, on Sunday, the Lord gave his disciples a long list of sins to avoid. He challenged them not to be hypocrites but to be a genuine people in love with the Lord. I mentioned that such lists, if preached upon, can make us angry, the reason being that most of us do not like to be reminded of our sinfulness and weakness. We even try to keep it from ourselves. Herodius was like this, too. John the Baptist would not allow them to forget or to ignore the great sin with which she and Herod had become involved. She soon discovered that the only way to silence him was to have his head on a platter, to force her lover to kill him.

We need to be, not like Herodius, but like John the Baptist. He fully realized that we were all sinners, needing to admit this reality to ourselves and to repent. Indeed, the baptism he offered in the desert was one of repentance and conversion. We should face up to what we do and to who we are, both to the beautiful and to the ugly. If we are not honest to ourselves, how can we dare face our selves, our neighbor, and our God with any semblance of integrity?

Sometimes to be a prophetic witness like John the Baptist will require hardship for us as well. It might mean that we will also have to die. If not physically, we may have to endure the little dyings that come when we challenge others to a more moral life and one which places God in a central position. I know a young girl who has just returned to college. To use an old phrase, she really is a "nice girl." Some of her friends, especially a few boys she really likes have mocked her values and have alienated themselves from her because of what she believes. She went to Church Sunday and they made fun of her. She is decent and they harass her. She called home to her folks and asked, "Mom, why are they doing this to me?" She asked this in tears because she had thought these people were her friends.

We need to pray for such young people who struggle courageously to maintain their faith and values. We know how deeply it can sometimes hurt. It would be good for us in word and example to continue our prophetic witness of Christ's kingdom breaking into the world; and to pray for ourselves and such young people as I mentioned today who need our love and encouragement.