MY daily reflection and prayer:
Monday, August 29, 2016
Twenty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time
Memorial of the Passion of Saint John the Baptist
Dear my friends,
Here is the Gospel for us today according to St. Mark 6:17-29
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. She 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. Herodias’s 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?” She 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.
This is the Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ.
***
TODAY is memorial of the passion of Saint John the Baptist. In his life, he did not fear the consequences of his actions. Why? It’s because he knew that if he were faithful, God would be at his side and never let him down, even if he had to suffer on account of the truth.
From his life we learn that we, too, need to give courageous witness to others about the truth. When we do, God will be with us and we will have nothing to fear.
In fact, God never abandons the sinner. He even gives us, the sinners, grace to turn back to him. So, we should never lose hope for one who seems to be lost in sin. We should always continue to speak the truth with love and pray for a full conversion.
In the Perpetual Adoration of the Eucharist we adore Jesus Christ who can change the heart of even the worst of sinners. He has forgiven us so much. He is always able to forgive us. Do we open our hearts to his merciful love?
Let’s pray: Lord Jesus Christ, may we never fear the consequences of speaking the truth. Give us the grace of a good conscience always to speak the truth with love now and forever. Amen.
Kredit foto: Ilustrasi (Ist)
