Biographical Information about St. John Vianney[1]
Readings for the Memorial of St. John Vianney[2]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Commentary:
Reading 1 Lv 25:1, 8-17
The establishment of the Jubilee (taken from the Hebrew word yobel or “rams horn” blown in response to the instruction) was important for preserving economic equilibrium among the Israelites. Featured prominently is the use of the “perfect number” in Hebrew numerology 7.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 67:2-3, 5, 7-8
R. O God, let all the nations praise you!
The song of praise that is Psalm 67 links to the first reading in its thankfulness for the harvest, the fruits of God’s creation.
Gospel Mt 14:1-12
In this passage, recalling the manner of the death of John the Baptist, Herod unwittingly predicts Jesus future glory as he assumes the Lord is John the Baptist raised from the dead. His guilt over the murder of John wears heavily on him.
Reflection:
The evil one does not need much of an opening to find ways to tilt those who are ambivalent about the faith. Look at today’s Gospel. King Herod was not inclined to harm John the Baptist. He was worried about him, yes. He thought John, because of is reputation as Holy Man and Prophet might stir up the people in revolt against him. That is why John was arrested.
Tradition also holds that John was critical of Herod for entering into an adulterous relationship with Herodias who had first married her uncle Herod II, had given birth to Salome her daughter, then married another uncle Herod Antipas (the Herod in our Gospel story). It was Herodias that really wanted John killed. She was shamed by his call to repentance and her sin was an open door for the evil one who used the occasion of the birthday of Herod Antipas to have Salome tempt Herod into offering her any thing she wanted, publicly.
In this way, John the Baptist, who had from the beginning pre-figured Christ, first announcing his coming as the Messiah, then providing some of his first disciples (remember, Andrew, brother of Simon Peter, was one of John’s disciples first), now precedes him in death. As we hear later in the Gospel story, this event greatly affected the Lord. The evil one could not get directly to Jesus, but he found a way to hurt him none the less.
Following this story we see how “the worm turns” twisting the will of weak and sinful people to do his will. It is a lesson for us. It was not the evil intent of Herod to murder John, he was tricked into the act. Was he culpable? Absolutely. Was he the tool of the evil one? Again, absolutely. It has been so from the time Eve was deceived in the Garden and brought Adam with her into sin.
For us this lesson reminds us that we must constantly be on our guard. It is easy for those whose guilt is allowed to fester to be twisted and turned into tools to use against us. How simple it seems for that evil, which inured even the Lord of life, to injure him again because of His love for us.
Pax
[1] The picture is St. John Mary Vianney from an antique Holy Card, Artist UNKNOWN
[2] After Links to Readings Expire
Readings for the Memorial of St. John Vianney[2]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Commentary:
Reading 1 Lv 25:1, 8-17
The establishment of the Jubilee (taken from the Hebrew word yobel or “rams horn” blown in response to the instruction) was important for preserving economic equilibrium among the Israelites. Featured prominently is the use of the “perfect number” in Hebrew numerology 7.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 67:2-3, 5, 7-8
R. O God, let all the nations praise you!
The song of praise that is Psalm 67 links to the first reading in its thankfulness for the harvest, the fruits of God’s creation.
Gospel Mt 14:1-12
In this passage, recalling the manner of the death of John the Baptist, Herod unwittingly predicts Jesus future glory as he assumes the Lord is John the Baptist raised from the dead. His guilt over the murder of John wears heavily on him.
Reflection:
The evil one does not need much of an opening to find ways to tilt those who are ambivalent about the faith. Look at today’s Gospel. King Herod was not inclined to harm John the Baptist. He was worried about him, yes. He thought John, because of is reputation as Holy Man and Prophet might stir up the people in revolt against him. That is why John was arrested.
Tradition also holds that John was critical of Herod for entering into an adulterous relationship with Herodias who had first married her uncle Herod II, had given birth to Salome her daughter, then married another uncle Herod Antipas (the Herod in our Gospel story). It was Herodias that really wanted John killed. She was shamed by his call to repentance and her sin was an open door for the evil one who used the occasion of the birthday of Herod Antipas to have Salome tempt Herod into offering her any thing she wanted, publicly.
In this way, John the Baptist, who had from the beginning pre-figured Christ, first announcing his coming as the Messiah, then providing some of his first disciples (remember, Andrew, brother of Simon Peter, was one of John’s disciples first), now precedes him in death. As we hear later in the Gospel story, this event greatly affected the Lord. The evil one could not get directly to Jesus, but he found a way to hurt him none the less.
Following this story we see how “the worm turns” twisting the will of weak and sinful people to do his will. It is a lesson for us. It was not the evil intent of Herod to murder John, he was tricked into the act. Was he culpable? Absolutely. Was he the tool of the evil one? Again, absolutely. It has been so from the time Eve was deceived in the Garden and brought Adam with her into sin.
For us this lesson reminds us that we must constantly be on our guard. It is easy for those whose guilt is allowed to fester to be twisted and turned into tools to use against us. How simple it seems for that evil, which inured even the Lord of life, to injure him again because of His love for us.
Pax
[1] The picture is St. John Mary Vianney from an antique Holy Card, Artist UNKNOWN
[2] After Links to Readings Expire
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