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| “Beheading of Saint John the Baptist” (detail) by Caravaggio, 1608. |
Commentary:[3]
Note: for this memorial, the Gospel from the proper of the saint is used.
Reading 1: 2 Thessalonians 3:6-10, 16-18
Commentary on 2 Thes 3:6-10, 16-18
St. Paul concludes his second letter to the Church at Thessalonika with instructions on how to deal with members of their community who were “disorderly.” It is likely that this behavior was surfacing because of the forged letter that had surfaced announcing that the Apocalypse was at hand. Some of the individuals who believed this may have stopped working and became a drain on the resources of the church. St. Paul tells the membership to shun these individuals, to shame them into returning to St. Paul’s own teaching. (We note he concludes his letter assuring the Thessalonian Christians that it is from him and written in his own hand.)
CCC: 2 Thes 3:1-13 1577; 2 Thes 3:9 1794; 2 Thes 3:16 385, 463, 2641
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Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 128:1-2, 4-5
R. (1) Blessed are those who fear the Lord.
Commentary on Ps 128:1-2, 4-5
Psalm 128 is a song of thanksgiving. It begins with the typical blessings for following and having faith in the Lord. The faithful shall see the work of their hands prosper, a result of performing all deeds for the greater glory of God.
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Gospel: Mark 6:17-29
Commentary on Mk 6:17-29
The story of St. John the Baptist's life from St. Mark’s Gospel gives a concise picture of St. John’s end. Especially here we note the similarities between the passing of St. John and the passion of Jesus in Mark 15:1-47 . The rationale in both cases was the anger and guilt felt at the truth proclaimed; in the case of John the guilt of Herodias; in the case of Jesus, the Jewish leaders'.
Both Herod and Pilot acknowledge the holiness of the ones they are to put to death. In both cases following the executions, faithful followers insure the body is given a respectful burial. St. Matthew’s Gospel gives a more complete introduction of Herod and Herodias (see Matthew 14:1-3). The actual account presented here is done as a flashback as Herod questions the identity of Jesus whose disciples have just been sent into his region with great authority.
CCC: Mk 6:17-29 523
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Reflection:
We continue to marvel at God’s plan for us as we are given the end of St. John the Baptist. From the womb he was chosen to be a forerunner of Jesus Christ. He was the one predicted by the prophets – the new Elijah who prepared the way for Jesus’ mission on earth – the ultimate revelation of God in human flesh. He preceded Jesus in life, in ministry, and, as we see in Mark’s Gospel, in his death at the hands of those he invited to repent and return to the path to God’s Kingdom.
In his martyrdom St. John the Baptist shared in Christ’s victory. Victory? One might think that being beheaded by a lecherous, hedonistic, and sadistic ruler like Herod was not a victory. Yet, as St. Paul points out in his First Letter to the Corinthians, Jesus used the cross to redefine victory. His death became a defeat for death, for all those who lay aside the wisdom of the world and have faith.
And what practical lesson do we take away from this “redefinition,” this incredible act that defies the wisdom of the world, and changes the perspective of those struggling to know God? First, with intense humility, we thank God for giving us the faith needed to understand how his love expressed itself through the sacrifice of his Son, foreshadowed by St. John’s own death. We see in the events that unfold in the Gospel that we must not expect the world to welcome the love we offer as followers of Christ. We know Jesus obediently followed St. John in death at the hands of his captors.
We thank God for the examples of St. John the Baptist and all the saints who have gone before us in faith, for their examples of heroic fidelity to the Lord, and their unswerving dedication to passing on the message they were given. We pray today that our own examples of faith will give encouragement to our brothers and sisters who, like St. John, are persecuted for their faith, and demonstrate for those who have not heard the Lord’s call that his hand is outstretched to them as well.
Pax
[1] The picture is “Beheading of Saint John the Baptist” (detail) by Caravaggio, 1608.
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