Daily Catholic Lectio
Thu, 29 August 2024
Twenty-First Week in Ordinary Time – Thursday
The Passion of John the Baptist, Memorial
1 Corinthians 1:1-9. Mark 6:17-29
Rich in every way!
Recently, in the New Testament Galilee, they discovered a regal earring. The carbon testing shows that this earring may be as old as 2000 years. I guess this may be one of the two earrings of Salome, the daughter of Herodias, who danced in the presence of Herod the Great on his birthday.
Today we commemorate the passion of John the Baptist, who suffered in the hands of Herod. The suffering of the Lord foreshadows the passion of Jesus and that of the disciples. The problem of innocent suffering has been the disturbing question.
The gospel reading narrates the passion of John the Baptist. The four characters of the story are: Herod, Herodias, Salome, and John.
The narrative portrays four types of suffering, and these types metaphorise all our human suffering.
(a) Choosing between two goods
It is easy for us to choose between good and bad. Herod wanted to have Herodias, the wife of his daughter, and wanted not to offend John the Baptist. He had his own regret. But he did not want to give Herodias up.
(b) Pebble in the shoes
John the Baptist was a pebble in the shoes of Herodias. She wanted to get rid of him at all costs. She was waiting for a chance.
(c) Inability to decide
Salome, the daughter of Herodias, did not know what she wanted. Herod wanted to give her half of his kingdom. Our inability to decide gives us great pain.
(d) Justice or Compromise?
John the Baptist did not compromise with God’s justice. He was firm in encountering Herod. He knew that one can’t have his legs in two boats.
As we reflect on this passage, we are called to consider the cost of discipleship, the power of conscience, and the courage required to stand for truth in a world often hostile to it.
(a) The Cost of Discipleship. In the Gospel, we see that John the Baptist paid the ultimate price for his faithfulness to God’s call.
(b) The Power of Conscience. The narrative of John’s death also highlights the tension between conscience and power.
(c) The Courage to Stand for Truth. John’s life and death challenge us to have the courage to stand for truth in the face of opposition.
Courage is not the absence of fear but the strength to act despite it. John likely knew the risks he was taking by confronting Herod, but he was willing to face those risks because he was committed to God’s truth. This courage is something we are all called to as followers of Christ. We may not be called to martyrdom in the same way John was, but we are certainly called to witness to the truth in our daily lives, whether in our families, workplaces, or communities.
In the first reading, Paul, before his exhortation to the Corinthian community, encourages them, “You are rich in every way.” Those who have owned God are rich in every way.
#
The pilgrims of hope embrace pain with joy. (Jubilee 2025 AD, bite 185).
Fr. Yesu Karunanidhi
Archdiocese of Madurai
Missionary of Mercy
Yesu Karunanidhi 
Leave a comment