The girl hurried back to the king’s presence and made her request,
mark 6:25
“I want you to give me at once
on a platter the head of John the Baptist.”
Reflection
Today is the Passion of St. John the Baptist. The Gospel reading describes how Herod has John beheaded because he promised to give his wife’s daughter anything she wanted. She asks for the head of John the Baptist, and so Herod must follow through on his promise.
Herod commits this terrible act because he does not want to be embarrassed in front of his guests. He does something evil to save face. Have we ever done something similar? Oftentimes, we can sin because we don’t want to embarrass ourselves or do something contrary to what others are doing. Giving in to peer pressure almost never leads to virtue.
There are many small ways we can deny Christ when we don’t want to be embarrassed or called out in social situations. It might be taking his name in vain when others do it, getting drunk, gossiping about others, etc. It is in these small ways that we slowly stray on our path to holiness. Ask the Lord for the grace to always choose him, being bold in your faith no matter what.
Saint of the Day
John the Baptist
Herod was the one who had John the Baptist 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.
Mark 6:17-19
The Healing Word 