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| “ Beheading of Saint John the Baptist” (detail) by Caravaggio, 1608 |
Commentary:
Note: for this memorial, the Gospel from the proper of the saint is used.
Reading 1: 1 Corinthians 2:1-5
Commentary on 1 Cor 2:1-5
The apostle goes into an explanation of his axiomatic expression “…the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.” (1 Corinthians 1:25) The difficulty he has in proclaiming his gospel in Athens using Hellenistic rhetoric (Acts 17:16-34) caused him to proclaim Christ to the Corinthians in an unvarnished way: “Christ and him crucified.” Coming to them in humility, he provides an example and faith based, not upon logic, but upon the spirit that goes beyond human wisdom. He offers this same “kenosis” in Philippians 2:6-11.
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Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 119:97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102
R. (97) Lord, I love your commands.
Commentary on Ps 119:97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102
Psalm 119 is an acrostic poem. Each of the eight verses of the first strophe begins with the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet (aleph). Each verse of the second strophe begins with the second letter (beth), and so on for all 22 letters of the alphabet.
The entire work is in praise of the Law, and the joys to be found in keeping it. It is not "legalism" but a love and desire for the word of God in Israel's Law, which is the expression of the Lord's revelation of himself and his will for man. These particular verses focus on the wisdom transmitted through the Law: “Your command has made me wiser than my enemies.”
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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 caused shame that resulted in violence; in the case of Jesus, it was the Jewish leaders’.
Both Herod and Pilot acknowledge the holiness of the ones they 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.
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