Herod had, in fact, ordered that John be arrested, bound in chains and put in prison, because of Herodias,
the wife of his brother Philip. For John had said to Herod, “It is not right for you to have her as your wife.”
Herod wanted to kill him but he did not dare, because he feared the people, who regarded John as a prophet.

On Herod’s birthday the daughter of Herodias danced among the guests; she so delighted Herod that he
promised under oath to give her anything she asked for. The girl, following the advice of her mother, said,
“Give me the head of John the Baptist, here, on a dish.”

The king was very displeased, but because he had made his promise under oath, in the presence of his guests,
he ordered it to be given to her. So he had John beheaded in prison, and his head brought on a dish and given
to the girl. The girl then took it to her mother.

Then John’s disciples came, took his body and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus.

Reflection:

It is said that one who commits a crime would always leave a clue to be caught, unconsciously so, for we are
made for Truth and our being rebels against falsehood. Whether the above claim about the clue is true or not, our
crimes and falsehood do leave their painful mark in our mind and heart, constantly hurting us. This is what we see
in King Herod. Though he beheaded and thereby silenced John the Baptist, John comes alive with many heads and
tongues in the mind of Herod, tormenting him emotionally and spiritually. Herod’s guilt keeps eating him away. Thus,
when he hears of Jesus, he is convinced that it is John himself who has come back to life. Who can save us from such
predicament? Only a genuine confession of sins and reparation, and a humble return to truthful ways can heal us of
such internal wounds. And this is the Gospel: repent and turn back to the Lord.

© Copyright Bible Diary 2022