Memorial of the Passion of Saint John
the Baptist
Lectionary: 428/634
Lectionary: 428/634
We have been reassured about you, brothers and sisters,
in our every distress and affliction, through your faith.
For we now live, if you stand firm in the Lord.
What thanksgiving, then, can we render to God for you,
for all the joy we feel on your account before our God?
Night and day we pray beyond measure to see you in person
and to remedy the deficiencies of your faith.
Now may God himself, our Father, and our Lord Jesus
direct our way to you, and may the Lord make you increase
and abound in love for one another and for all,
just as we have for you,
so as to strengthen your hearts,
to be blameless in holiness before our God and Father
at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his holy ones. Amen.
in our every distress and affliction, through your faith.
For we now live, if you stand firm in the Lord.
What thanksgiving, then, can we render to God for you,
for all the joy we feel on your account before our God?
Night and day we pray beyond measure to see you in person
and to remedy the deficiencies of your faith.
Now may God himself, our Father, and our Lord Jesus
direct our way to you, and may the Lord make you increase
and abound in love for one another and for all,
just as we have for you,
so as to strengthen your hearts,
to be blameless in holiness before our God and Father
at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his holy ones. Amen.
Responsorial
PsalmPS 90:3-5A, 12-13, 14 AND
17
R. (14) Fill us
with your love, O Lord, and we will sing for joy!
You turn man back to dust,
saying, "Return, O children of men."
For a thousand years in your sight
are as yesterday, now that it is past,
or as a watch of the night.
R. Fill us with your love, O Lord, and we will sing for joy!
Teach us to number our days aright,
that we may gain wisdom of heart.
Return, O LORD! How long?
Have pity on your servants!
R. Fill us with your love, O Lord, and we will sing for joy!
Fill us at daybreak with your kindness,
that we may shout for joy and gladness all our days.
And may the gracious care of the LORD our God be ours;
prosper the work of our hands for us!
Prosper the work of our hands!
R. Fill us with your love, O Lord, and we will sing for joy!
You turn man back to dust,
saying, "Return, O children of men."
For a thousand years in your sight
are as yesterday, now that it is past,
or as a watch of the night.
R. Fill us with your love, O Lord, and we will sing for joy!
Teach us to number our days aright,
that we may gain wisdom of heart.
Return, O LORD! How long?
Have pity on your servants!
R. Fill us with your love, O Lord, and we will sing for joy!
Fill us at daybreak with your kindness,
that we may shout for joy and gladness all our days.
And may the gracious care of the LORD our God be ours;
prosper the work of our hands for us!
Prosper the work of our hands!
R. Fill us with your love, O Lord, and we will sing for joy!
AlleluiaMT 5:10
R. Alleluia,
alleluia.
Blessed are those who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness,
for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Blessed are those who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness,
for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
GospelMK 6:17-29
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.
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.
For the readings of the Memorial of the Passion of Saint John the Baptist,
please go here.
Meditation: "Herod
feared John - a righteous and holy man"
Are
you prepared to be a witness, and if necessary, a martyr for Jesus Christ? John
the Baptist bridged the Old and New Testaments. He is the last of the Old
Testament prophets who pointed the way to the Messiah. He is the first of the
New Testament witnesses and martyrs. Jesus equated the coming of his kingdom
with violence. From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom
of heaven has suffered violence, and men of violence take it by force (Matthew
11:12). John suffered violence for announcing that the kingdom of
God was near. He was thrown into prison and then beheaded.
Whose
pleasure do you seek?
King Herod, the most powerful and wealthy man in Judea, had everything he wanted, except a clear conscience and peace with God. Herod had respected and feared John the Baptist as a great prophet and servant of God. John, however did not fear to rebuke Herod for his adulterous relationship with his brother's wife. John ended up in prison because of Herodias' jealousy. Herod, out of impulse and a desire to please his family and friends, had John beheaded.
King Herod, the most powerful and wealthy man in Judea, had everything he wanted, except a clear conscience and peace with God. Herod had respected and feared John the Baptist as a great prophet and servant of God. John, however did not fear to rebuke Herod for his adulterous relationship with his brother's wife. John ended up in prison because of Herodias' jealousy. Herod, out of impulse and a desire to please his family and friends, had John beheaded.
Why
did Herod put John to death when he knew him to be a righteous and holy
man? Herod's power and influence were badly flawed. He was more bent
on pleasing others and making friends than on doing what was right and just in
the sight of God. He could take a strong stand on the wrong things when he knew
the right. Such a stand, however, was a sign of weakness and cowardice.
God
is our help and our strength
Where do you get the strength of will and heart to choose what is right and to reject what is wrong and sinful? The Lord Jesus gives strength and courage to those who humbly acknowledge their dependence on him. The Lord knows our weaknesses better than we do. He pardons and heals those who ask for his mercy and forgiveness. In whatever situation we find ourselves the Lord is there to guide and direct us. Do you seek the Lord's strength and wisdom? Ask with expectant faith and trust in the Lord's help and grace.
Where do you get the strength of will and heart to choose what is right and to reject what is wrong and sinful? The Lord Jesus gives strength and courage to those who humbly acknowledge their dependence on him. The Lord knows our weaknesses better than we do. He pardons and heals those who ask for his mercy and forgiveness. In whatever situation we find ourselves the Lord is there to guide and direct us. Do you seek the Lord's strength and wisdom? Ask with expectant faith and trust in the Lord's help and grace.
The
love of Christ is stronger than death
Since the martyrdom of John the Baptist to the present time, the kingdom of God has suffered violence and persecution at the hands of violent people. The blood of Christian martyrs throughout the ages bear witness to this fact. Their testimony to the truth of the Gospel and their willingness to suffer and die for their faith prove victory rather than defeat for the kingdom of God. What fuels their faith and courage in the face of suffering, persecution, and death? They know and believe with the "eyes of faith" that nothing in this present world can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:35-39).
Since the martyrdom of John the Baptist to the present time, the kingdom of God has suffered violence and persecution at the hands of violent people. The blood of Christian martyrs throughout the ages bear witness to this fact. Their testimony to the truth of the Gospel and their willingness to suffer and die for their faith prove victory rather than defeat for the kingdom of God. What fuels their faith and courage in the face of suffering, persecution, and death? They know and believe with the "eyes of faith" that nothing in this present world can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:35-39).
Power
to witness the love and mercy of Jesus Christ
What gives us the power, boldness, and courage to witness to Jesus Christ and to the truth of the Gospel? The Holy Spirit fills us with courage, love, and boldness to make Jesus Christ known and loved. We do not need to fear those who oppose the Gospel, because the love of Jesus Christ is stronger than fear and death itself. His love conquers all, even our fears and timidity in the face of opposition and persecution. We can trust in his grace and help at all times. Are you ready to make the Lord Jesus known and loved, and if necessary to suffer for his sake and the sake of the Gospel? Ask the Lord Jesus to fill you with the power and grace of the Holy Spirit.
What gives us the power, boldness, and courage to witness to Jesus Christ and to the truth of the Gospel? The Holy Spirit fills us with courage, love, and boldness to make Jesus Christ known and loved. We do not need to fear those who oppose the Gospel, because the love of Jesus Christ is stronger than fear and death itself. His love conquers all, even our fears and timidity in the face of opposition and persecution. We can trust in his grace and help at all times. Are you ready to make the Lord Jesus known and loved, and if necessary to suffer for his sake and the sake of the Gospel? Ask the Lord Jesus to fill you with the power and grace of the Holy Spirit.
"Lord
Jesus Christ, give me faith, boldness, and courage to stand firm in the truth
of the Gospel and to not waver in my testimony of your love and mercy. Give me
hope and joy in the promise of everlasting life with you in your kingdom."
Daily
Quote from the early church fathers: The Weakness of the Tyrant and the
Power of the Beheaded, by John Chrysostom (347-407 AD)
"Note
well the weakness of the tyrant compared to the power of the one in prison.
Herod was not strong enough to silence his own tongue. Having opened it, he
opened up countless other mouths in its place and with its help. As for John,
he immediately inspired fear in Herod after his murder - for fear was
disturbing Herod's conscience to such an extent that he believed John had been
raised from the dead and was performing miracles (Mark 6:14-16)! In our
own day and through all future time, throughout all the world, John continues
to refute Herod, both through himself and through others. For each person
repeatedly reading this Gospel says: 'It is not lawful for you to have the wife
of Philip your brother' (Mark 6:18). And even apart from reading the Gospel, in
assemblies and meetings at home or in the market, in every place... even to the
very ends of the earth, you will hear this voice and see that righteous man
even now still crying out, resounding loudly, reproving the evil of the tyrant.
He will never be silenced nor the reproof at all weakened by the passing of
time." (excerpt from ON THE PROVIDENCE OF GOD 22.8-9)
THURSDAY, AUGUST 29, MARK 6:17-29
(1 Thessalonians 3:7-13; Psalm 90)
(1 Thessalonians 3:7-13; Psalm 90)
KEY VERSE: "I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter" (v 25).
TO KNOW: Between the incidents of Jesus' sending forth the Twelve and their return, Mark inserted the story of the death of John the Baptist. Perhaps Mark wanted to indicate the fate that awaited the Apostles. Similarities can be seen between the death of John and Jesus. Both Herod and Pilate noted the holiness of the men whom they sentenced to death (Mk 6:20; Mt 27:24). Both John and Jesus were executed for speaking the truth, and the disciples of both men came for their bodies and laid them in a tomb (Mk 6:29; Mt 27:69-70). John suffered martyrdom for speaking against the illicit marriage of Herod and Herodias, the wife of his half-brother (Lv 18:16; 20:21). Out of spite, Herodias found the opportunity to have John put to death. During a banquet in honor of her husband's birthday, she told her daughter to ask for the head of the Baptist. Jesus said that from the days of John, the kingdom of God would suffer violence (Mt 11:11-12), which was fulfilled in Jesus' own passion and death.
TO LOVE: Am I willing to speak the truth no matter the difficulty of the circumstances?
TO SERVE: Lord Jesus, give me the courage to speak when others oppose me.
Memorial of
the Passion of Saint John the Baptist
John the Baptist was a Jewish prophet who stood at the juncture of the close of the Old Testament and the opening of the New Testament. He was a preacher in the time of Pontius Pilate (CE 26-36), announcing the coming of the Messiah of God. Like the prophet Elijah, John called the people to repentance and to a renewal of their covenant relationship with God. He was imprisoned and eventually put to death by Herod Antipas (son of Herod the Great, the Jewish king when Jesus was born). John denounced Herod's marriage to Herodias, the wife of his still-living half-brother Philip. In order to marry Herodias, Herod had divorced his first wife, the daughter of King Aretas of Damascus. The king subsequently made war on Herod, a war which, the Jewish historian Josephus tells us, was regarded by devout Jews as a punishment for Herod's murder of the prophet John.
John the Baptist was a Jewish prophet who stood at the juncture of the close of the Old Testament and the opening of the New Testament. He was a preacher in the time of Pontius Pilate (CE 26-36), announcing the coming of the Messiah of God. Like the prophet Elijah, John called the people to repentance and to a renewal of their covenant relationship with God. He was imprisoned and eventually put to death by Herod Antipas (son of Herod the Great, the Jewish king when Jesus was born). John denounced Herod's marriage to Herodias, the wife of his still-living half-brother Philip. In order to marry Herodias, Herod had divorced his first wife, the daughter of King Aretas of Damascus. The king subsequently made war on Herod, a war which, the Jewish historian Josephus tells us, was regarded by devout Jews as a punishment for Herod's murder of the prophet John.
Thursday 29 August 2019
The Passion of St John The Baptist
1 Thessalonians 3:7-13. Psalm 89(90):3-4, 12-14, 17. Matthew
24:42-51/Mark 6:17-29.
Fill us with your love, O Lord, and we will sing for joy! –
Psalm 89(90):3-4, 12-14, 17.
‘May the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one
another and for all.’
Discipleship costs not less than everything. The saying, ‘No
prophet ever died in his bed’, is certainly true of John the Baptist, the last
of the Old Testament line of prophets. Jesus described him as ‘a burning and
shining lamp’ (John 5:35) and said of him, ‘Among those born of women no one
has risen greater than John’ (Matthew 11:11).
Jesus warned his disciples – and, implicitly, his followers ever
more – that they too might suffer the same fate as John. ‘They will hand you
over to be tortured, and will put you to death, and you will be hated by all
nations because of my name’ (Matthew 24:9). We live in an age of Christian
martyrs who daily witness to the truth that the cost of discipleship is not
less than everything. Let us turn to the Father to give us courage for the
daily trials we face.
Martyrdom of John the Baptist
Saint of the Day for August 29
 |
| Salome with the Head of John the Baptist | Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio |
The Story of the Martyrdom of John the Baptist
The drunken oath of a king with a shallow sense of honor, a
seductive dance and the hateful heart of a queen combined to bring about the
martyrdom of John
the Baptist. The greatest of prophets suffered the fate of so many Old
Testament prophets before him: rejection and martyrdom. The “voice crying in
the desert” did not hesitate to accuse the guilty, did not hesitate to speak
the truth. But why? What possesses a man that he would give up his very life?
This great religious reformer was sent by God to prepare the
people for the Messiah. His vocation was one of selfless giving. The only power
that he claimed was the Spirit of Yahweh. “I am baptizing you with water, for
repentance, but the one who is coming after me is mightier than I. I am not
worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire”
(Matthew 3:11).
Scripture tells us that many people followed John looking to him
for hope, perhaps in anticipation of some great messianic power. John never
allowed himself the false honor of receiving these people for his own glory. He
knew his calling was one of preparation. When the time came, he led his
disciples to Jesus: “The next day John was there again with two of his
disciples, and as he watched Jesus walk by, he said, ‘Behold, the Lamb of God.’
The two disciples heard what he said and followed Jesus” (John 1:35-37).
It is John the Baptist who has pointed the way to Christ. John’s
life and death were a giving over of self for God and other people. His simple
style of life was one of complete detachment from earthly possessions. His
heart was centered on God and the call that he heard from the Spirit of God
speaking to his heart. Confident of God’s grace, he had the courage to speak
words of condemnation, repentance, and salvation.
Reflection
Each of us has a calling to which we must listen. No one will
ever repeat the mission of John, and yet all of us are called to that very
mission. It is the role of the Christian to witness to Jesus. Whatever our
position in this world, we are called to be disciples of Christ. By our words
and deeds, others should realize that we live in the joy of knowing that Jesus
is Lord. We do not have to depend upon our own limited resources, but can draw
strength from the vastness of Christ’s saving grace.
Lectio Divina: The Martyrdom of St. John the Baptist
Lectio Divina
Thursday, August 29, 2019
Ordinary Time
1) Opening prayer
Father,
help us to seek the values
that will bring us enduring joy in this changing world.
In our desire for what You promise
make us one in mind and heart.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son,
who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
help us to seek the values
that will bring us enduring joy in this changing world.
In our desire for what You promise
make us one in mind and heart.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son,
who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
2) Gospel Reading - Mark 6:17-29
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.
3) Reflection
• Today we commemorate the martyrdom of Saint John the Baptist.
The Gospel gives a description of how John the Baptist was killed, without due
process, during a banquet, a victim of the corruption and arrogance of Herod
and his court.
• Mark 6:17-20. The cause of the imprisonment and the beheading of John. Herod was an employee of the Roman Empire, who ruled in Palestine beginning in the year 63 BC. Caesar was the Emperor of Rome. He insisted above all in an efficient administration which would provide revenue for the Empire and for him. Herod’s concern was his own advancement and his security. This is why he suppressed any type of corruption. He liked to be called the benefactor of the people, but in reality he was a tyrant (cf. Lk 22:25). Flavius Josephus, a writer of that time, claims that the reason for the imprisonment of John the Baptist was the fear that Herod had of a popular uprising or revolt. John the Baptist’s denunciation of the depraved morality of Herod (Mk 6:18) was “the straw that broke the camel’s back,” and John was imprisoned.
• Mark 6:21-29: The plot of the murderer. The anniversary and banquet of the feast, with dancing and orgy, were the occasion for the beheading of John. It was an environment in which the powerful of the kingdom met together and in which alliances were formed. “The great of the court,” two officials and two important people from Galilee, participated in the feast. This was the environment in which the beheading of John the Baptist was decided. John, the prophet, was a living denunciation of that corrupt system, and this is why he was eliminated under the pretext of a personal obligation. All this reveals the moral weakness of Herod. So much power had accumulated in the hands of one man who had no self-control. In the enthusiasm of the feast, of the celebration and of wine, Herod makes a promise by oath to a young girl, a dancer. Superstitious as he was, he thought that he had to keep the promise. For Herod, the lives of his subjects were worthless. Mark gives an account of how the beheading happened and leaves the communities the task of drawing the conclusion.
• Between the lines, the Gospel today gives much information on the time in which Jesus lived and on the way in which power was exercised by the powerful of that time. Galilee, the land of Jesus, was governed by Herod Antipas, the son of King Herod, the Great, from the year 4 BC until the year 39 AD - 43 years! During the whole time of Jesus’ life on earth there was no change of government in Galilee! Herod was absolute lord of everything and did not render an account to anyone. He did as he pleased. In him there was arrogance, lack of ethics, absolute power, without any control on the part of the people!
• Herod constructed a new capital, called Tiberiades. Seffori, the ancient capital, was destroyed by the Romans in retaliation for a popular revolt. This happened when Jesus was about seven years old. Tiberiades, the new capital, was inaugurated thirteen years later, when Jesus was approximately 20 years old. The capital was given that name in order to please Tiberius, the Emperor of Rome. Tiberiades was a strange place in Galilee. That was the place where the king, “the great of the court”, the officials, the important people of Galilee lived (Mk 6:21). The landowners, the soldiers, the policemen lived there and also the judges, who were often insensitive and indifferent (Lk 18:1-4). The taxes and tributes and the products of the people were channeled there. It was there that Herod held his orgies of death (Mk 6:21-29). The Gospel does not say that Jesus entered the city.
During the 43 years of the government of Herod, a class of officials, faithful to the plans of the king, was created: the scribes, the merchants, the landowners, the tax collectors on the market, the tax collectors or publicans, the militia, policemen, judges, promoters, local heads. The majority of these people lived in the capital and enjoyed the privileges which Herod offered, for example, exemption from taxes. Others lived in the villages. In every village or city there was a group of people who supported the government. Several scribes and Pharisees were bound to the system and to the politics of the government. In the Gospels, the Pharisees appear together with the Herodians (Mk 3:6; 8:15; 12:13), and this shows the existing alliance between the religious and the civil powers. The life of the people in the villages of Galilee was very controlled, both by the government and by religion. It took much courage to begin something new, as John and Jesus did! It was the same thing as attracting to oneself the anger of the privileged ones, both those of the religious power as those of the civil power, both at local and state levels.
• Mark 6:17-20. The cause of the imprisonment and the beheading of John. Herod was an employee of the Roman Empire, who ruled in Palestine beginning in the year 63 BC. Caesar was the Emperor of Rome. He insisted above all in an efficient administration which would provide revenue for the Empire and for him. Herod’s concern was his own advancement and his security. This is why he suppressed any type of corruption. He liked to be called the benefactor of the people, but in reality he was a tyrant (cf. Lk 22:25). Flavius Josephus, a writer of that time, claims that the reason for the imprisonment of John the Baptist was the fear that Herod had of a popular uprising or revolt. John the Baptist’s denunciation of the depraved morality of Herod (Mk 6:18) was “the straw that broke the camel’s back,” and John was imprisoned.
• Mark 6:21-29: The plot of the murderer. The anniversary and banquet of the feast, with dancing and orgy, were the occasion for the beheading of John. It was an environment in which the powerful of the kingdom met together and in which alliances were formed. “The great of the court,” two officials and two important people from Galilee, participated in the feast. This was the environment in which the beheading of John the Baptist was decided. John, the prophet, was a living denunciation of that corrupt system, and this is why he was eliminated under the pretext of a personal obligation. All this reveals the moral weakness of Herod. So much power had accumulated in the hands of one man who had no self-control. In the enthusiasm of the feast, of the celebration and of wine, Herod makes a promise by oath to a young girl, a dancer. Superstitious as he was, he thought that he had to keep the promise. For Herod, the lives of his subjects were worthless. Mark gives an account of how the beheading happened and leaves the communities the task of drawing the conclusion.
• Between the lines, the Gospel today gives much information on the time in which Jesus lived and on the way in which power was exercised by the powerful of that time. Galilee, the land of Jesus, was governed by Herod Antipas, the son of King Herod, the Great, from the year 4 BC until the year 39 AD - 43 years! During the whole time of Jesus’ life on earth there was no change of government in Galilee! Herod was absolute lord of everything and did not render an account to anyone. He did as he pleased. In him there was arrogance, lack of ethics, absolute power, without any control on the part of the people!
• Herod constructed a new capital, called Tiberiades. Seffori, the ancient capital, was destroyed by the Romans in retaliation for a popular revolt. This happened when Jesus was about seven years old. Tiberiades, the new capital, was inaugurated thirteen years later, when Jesus was approximately 20 years old. The capital was given that name in order to please Tiberius, the Emperor of Rome. Tiberiades was a strange place in Galilee. That was the place where the king, “the great of the court”, the officials, the important people of Galilee lived (Mk 6:21). The landowners, the soldiers, the policemen lived there and also the judges, who were often insensitive and indifferent (Lk 18:1-4). The taxes and tributes and the products of the people were channeled there. It was there that Herod held his orgies of death (Mk 6:21-29). The Gospel does not say that Jesus entered the city.
During the 43 years of the government of Herod, a class of officials, faithful to the plans of the king, was created: the scribes, the merchants, the landowners, the tax collectors on the market, the tax collectors or publicans, the militia, policemen, judges, promoters, local heads. The majority of these people lived in the capital and enjoyed the privileges which Herod offered, for example, exemption from taxes. Others lived in the villages. In every village or city there was a group of people who supported the government. Several scribes and Pharisees were bound to the system and to the politics of the government. In the Gospels, the Pharisees appear together with the Herodians (Mk 3:6; 8:15; 12:13), and this shows the existing alliance between the religious and the civil powers. The life of the people in the villages of Galilee was very controlled, both by the government and by religion. It took much courage to begin something new, as John and Jesus did! It was the same thing as attracting to oneself the anger of the privileged ones, both those of the religious power as those of the civil power, both at local and state levels.
4) Personal questions
• Do you know any people who died as victims of corruption and
the dominion of the powerful? And here, among us, in our community and in the
Church, are there some victims of authoritarianism or of the excess of power?
Give an example.
• Superstition, corruption, cowardice marked the exercise of Herod’s power. Compare this with the exercise of religious and civil power today, in the various levels both of society and of the Church.
• Superstition, corruption, cowardice marked the exercise of Herod’s power. Compare this with the exercise of religious and civil power today, in the various levels both of society and of the Church.
5) Concluding Prayer
In You, Yahweh, I take refuge,
I shall never be put to shame.
In Your saving justice rescue me,
deliver me, listen to me and save me. (Ps 71:1-2)
I shall never be put to shame.
In Your saving justice rescue me,
deliver me, listen to me and save me. (Ps 71:1-2)
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