Mark 6:14-29

Hebrews 13:1-8

Psalm 27:1, 3, 5, 8b-9abc

Mark 6:14-29

King Herod heard about Jesus, for his fame had become widespread,

and people were saying,

“John the Baptist has been raised from the dead;

That is why mighty powers are at work in him.”

Others were saying, “He is Elijah;”

still others, “He is a prophet like any of the prophets.”

But when Herod learned of it, he said,

“It is John whom I beheaded. He has been raised up.”

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.

Herodias 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.

His 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?”

Her mother 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.

Opening Prayer: Lord God, as I contemplate the martyrdom of John the Baptist, inspire me to be fearless in proclaiming the truth of the Gospel to all those I encounter. Do not let me put the light of Christ within me under a bushel basket. Move me to let the light shine forth in all I do and say today.

Encountering the Word of God

1. The Persecution of the Old Elijah: The passion and death of John the Baptist in the New Testament echoes the persecution of Elijah in the Old Testament. Ahab, the king of northern Israel, and his Queen Jezebel persecuted Elijah and sought to kill him. In the Gospel, Herod Antipas and his wife, Herodias, persecuted John the Baptist. Just as Jezebel tempted her weak-willed husband, Ahab, toward pagan religious practices, Herodias tempted her weak-willed husband, Herod, by having her daughter seductively dance for him. Just as Jezebel was the one who wanted to murder Elijah, Herodias was the one who wanted to murder John.

2. The Martyrdom of the New Elijah: Jezebel, did not succeed in killing Elijah, but the new Jezebel, Herodias, did succeed in her plot to have John, the New Elijah, beheaded. The reason why Mark tells the story of the martyrdom of John the Baptist while the Apostles are out on mission, is to anticipate the end of his Gospel which narrates the passion of Jesus and the sending out of the Apostles to proclaim the Gospel to the entire world. John’s death foreshadows the Jesus’ death. “With this parallel Mark suggests that John’s self-offering shares, in a hidden way, in the spiritual fruitfulness of the sacrifice of Christ” (Healy, The Gospel of Mark, 118). John’s burial by his disciples also foreshadows the burial of Jesus by his disciples (Mark 15:46).

3. Closing Exhortations in the Letter to the Hebrews: As the author of the Letter to the Hebrews brings the letter or homily to a close, he gives practical exhortations to the community on living out Christian charity. He speaks of brotherly love and hospitality. He asks that those in prison be not forgotten. He points to being chaste in married life and not succumbing to the love of money. He asks that we pray for the leaders of the Christian community. We need to imitate their good example of professing faith in Jesus Christ, who is faithful and eternally unchanging in his divine nature, yesterday, today, and always. The Jesus whom our ancestors preached and staked their lives on is the same Jesus who is alive in the Church today: “He has not changed. He is the same all-powerful redeemer and Lord who ‘yesterday’ provided the all-sufficient atonement for our sins (Hebrews 1:3; 9:26) and ‘today’ is enthroned in heaven as God’s Son (Hebrews 1:5, 13; 5:5) and ‘forever’ lives to make intercession for us so we are able to overcome every adversity and temptation (Hebrews 2:18; 4:16; 7:25)” (Healy, Hebrews, 290). 

Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, you are the same yesterday, today, and forever. You are the great high priest, eternally faithful and eternally merciful. Bring me to share in your divine life and enjoy the fullness of your glory in the heavenly Kingdom.

Living the Word of God: How can I better live the moral and spiritual exhortations contained in the Letter to the Hebrews? How am I living fraternal charity? How am I practicing hospitality to the less fortunate in my community and parish? How am I living chastity in my state of life? How can I be more detached from money and possessions? Am I praying for the leaders of the Church?