Reading
Mark 6:14-29
14 King Herod heard about this, for Jesus’ name had become well known. Some were saying, “John the Baptist has been raised from the dead, and that is why miraculous powers are at work in him.”
15 Others said, “He is Elijah.”
And still others claimed, “He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of long ago.”
16 But when Herod heard this, he said, “John, whom I beheaded, has been raised from the dead!”
17 For Herod himself had given orders to have John arrested, and he had him bound and put in prison. He did this because of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, whom he had married. 18 For John had been saying to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” 19 So Herodias nursed a grudge against John and wanted to kill him. But she was not able to, 20 because Herod feared John and protected him, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man. When Herod heard John, he was greatly puzzled; yet he liked to listen to him.
21 Finally the opportune time came. On his birthday Herod gave a banquet for his high officials and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee. 22 When the daughter of[c] Herodias came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his dinner guests.
The king said to the girl, “Ask me for anything you want, and I’ll give it to you.” 23 And he promised her with an oath, “Whatever you ask I will give you, up to half my kingdom.”
24 She went out and said to her mother, “What shall I ask for?”
“The head of John the Baptist,” she answered.
25 At once the girl hurried in to the king with the request: “I want you to give me right now the head of John the Baptist on a platter.”
26 The king was greatly distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he did not want to refuse her. 27 So he immediately sent an executioner with orders to bring John’s head. The man went, beheaded John in the prison, 28 and brought back his head on a platter. He presented it to the girl, and she gave it to her mother. 29 On hearing of this, John’s disciples came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.
Meditation
The identification of Jesus with Elijah by some Jews is probably due to the belief that he would return before the coming of the Messiah. Others consider Jesus a great prophet, in continuity with the prophets of the Old Testament. These views, although incorrect, show the interest aroused in the people by the figure of Jesus. If his fellow villagers in Nazareth could not believe anything great about him because they are blinded by prejudice, others believe anything but what he really is: the Son of God.
Herod's fear that John has returned from the dead by manifesting Himself in the person of Jesus shows his perception of guilt for the crime he committed. A guilty conscience needs no other accuser besides itself. But the terror of guilt, in itself, is not enough to cause conversion. Herod himself, who thinks Jesus may be John risen from the dead, will later try to kill him (Lk 13:31). Not even Herod's admiration for John, who "like to listen to him" (v. 20) was enough to arouse his conversion. Esteeming a good man does not in itself make us better men. Nor to listen to the word of God with pleasure. Even the stones welcome the word with joy (Lk 8:13).
The purpose of Herod's imprisonment of John is probably to protect him from the plots of Herodias. This was the daughter of her half-brother Aristobulus. John's disapproval of Herod was due to the fact that his relationship with Herodias was a violation of the Mosaic law. Herod's perplexity towards John's words shows the conflict of his conscience, divided between the passion for Herodias and the sense of guilt.
Generally, it was the slaves and prostitutes who danced. Salome, the daughter of Herodias, is therefore no less unscrupulous than her mother who, at the end of the dance, pushes her to ask for John's head. The half-kingdom offering was a common expression for a greatly generous disposition. Herod feels bound by his words because oaths were considered sacred and inviolable; blinded by the passion he makes a reckless promise that will lead to the death of the righteous.
The episode could be commented with an easy condemnation of the sexual instinct but Herod's real fault lies in his disordered affections, which lead him to act recklessly and to lose all hesitation in order to save his reputation. Thus he becomes the exact opposite of the wise and just ruler, in the senselessness of a birthday party that is tinged with blood.
The tragic end of John the Baptist confirms him as the forerunner of the Messiah. The story of his imprisonment and death has many similarities with that of the Passion of Jesus. Both Herod and Pilate recognize the holiness of those who are unjustly sentenced to death. The hatred of Herodias towards John is analogous to that of the high priests towards Jesus. After the death of John and Jesus, the bodies are requested from Herod and Pilate respectively, in order to be able to give them a proper burial.
The prophetic words of John and Jesus are a warning for our conscience. We are called to take them seriously, even when they are uncomfortable words, and not to compromise with the powers of this world, taking account of "saving our face" towards them rather than acting consistently according to the will of God.
Prayer
Help us, Lord, to accept with humility your appeals to conversion; so that your word may make us live in holiness and justice. Amen.
- Rev. Dr. Luca Vona
