John had told him, “It is not right for you to live with your brother’s wife.“ So Herodias held a
grudge against John and wanted to kill him, but she could not because Herod respected John.
Herodias had her chance on Herod’s birthday, On that occasion the daughter of Herodias came
in and danced; and she delighted Herod and his guests. The king said to the girl, “Ask me for
anything you want and I will give it to you.“ She went out to consult her mother, “What shall I
ask for?“ The mother replied, “The head of John the Baptist.“ The girl hurried to the king and
made her request: “I want you to give me the head of John the Baptist, here and now, on a
dish.“ The king was very displeased, but he would not refuse in front of his guests because
of his oaths. So he sent one of the bodyguards with orders to bring John’s head. He went and
beheaded John in prison; then he brought the head on a dish and gave it to the girl. And the girl
gave it to her mother.
Reflect
Most people want others to like and respect them. We seek approval and fear losing face in front
of friends and colleagues. On the one hand, the desire for approval may encourage us to behave
selflessly or to refrain from some bad actions. On the other hand, it can also lead to dangerous
behavior or extravagant promises that can hurt others. That’s what Herod does on today’s Gospel.
Herod knew that John the Baptist was good and holy. Herod was strangely attracted to John’s
message, but Herod liked the approval of his wife and courtiers even more. How can we resist the
temptation to betray our values in search of acceptance or approval? The answer is in the reading
from the Letter to the Hebrews. We can rely on the mutual love of our brothers and sisters in Christ
whose love does not depend on our status. We can rest in God who will not abandon us since Jesus
Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
© Copyright Bible Diary 2023