Head on a platter

Sisters and brothers in Christ, today is the Memorial of the Passion of Saint John the Baptist.

In today's Gospel, we see in Herod what can happen to us in a moment of weakness when we fall to sin and temptation - we do something that is contrary to what God desires of us. Jesus tells us that the "spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak" (Matthew 26:41), and we see that in Herod.

Herod "feared John, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man, and kept him in custody. When he heard him speak he was very much perplexed, yet he liked to listen to him." The spirit is willing. . . Yet, after Herodias' "own daughter came in and performed a dance that delighted Herod and his guests", Herod "swore many things to her" because he lusted over her - the flesh is weak.

How can we fortify ourselves from falling to sin and temptation? Unceasing prayer and never losing our focus on Christ. This is when we tap into the graces of the Sacraments that we have received to strengthen us.

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Gospel of the Day

Herod was the one who had John the Baptist arrested and bound in prison
on account of Herodias,
the wife of his brother Philip, whom he had married.
John had said to Herod,
“It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.”
Herodias harbored a grudge against him
and wanted to kill him but was unable to do so.
Herod feared John, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man,
and kept him in custody.
When he heard him speak he was very much perplexed,
yet he liked to listen to him.
She had an opportunity one day when Herod, on his birthday,
gave a banquet for his courtiers,
his military officers, and the leading men of Galilee.
Herodias’ own daughter came in
and performed a dance that delighted Herod and his guests.
The king said to the girl,
“Ask of me whatever you wish and I will grant it to you.”
He even swore many things to her,
“I will grant you whatever you ask of me,
even to half of my kingdom.”
She went out and said to her mother,
“What shall I ask for?”
She replied, “The head of John the Baptist.”
The girl hurried back to the king’s presence and made her request,
“I want you to give me at once
on a platter the head of John the Baptist.”
The king was deeply distressed,
but because of his oaths and the guests
he did not wish to break his word to her.
So he promptly dispatched an executioner with orders
to bring back his head.
He went off and beheaded him in the prison.
He brought in the head on a platter and gave it to the girl.
The girl in turn gave it to her mother.
When his disciples heard about it,
they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.