Saturday of the Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 406
Lectionary: 406
The LORD said to
Moses on Mount Sinai,
“Seven weeks of years shall you count–seven times seven years–
so that the seven cycles amount to forty-nine years.
Then, on the tenth day of the seventh month, let the trumpet resound;
on this, the Day of Atonement, the trumpet blast shall re-echo
throughout your land.
This fiftieth year you shall make sacred
by proclaiming liberty in the land for all its inhabitants.
It shall be a jubilee for you,
when every one of you shall return to his own property,
every one to his own family estate.
In this fiftieth year, your year of jubilee,
you shall not sow, nor shall you reap the aftergrowth
or pick the grapes from the untrimmed vines.
Since this is the jubilee, which shall be sacred for you,
you may not eat of its produce,
except as taken directly from the field.
“In this year of jubilee, then,
every one of you shall return to his own property.
Therefore, when you sell any land to your neighbor
or buy any from him, do not deal unfairly.
On the basis of the number of years since the last jubilee
shall you purchase the land from your neighbor;
and so also, on the basis of the number of years for crops,
shall he sell it to you.
When the years are many, the price shall be so much the more;
when the years are few, the price shall be so much the less.
For it is really the number of crops that he sells you.
Do not deal unfairly, then; but stand in fear of your God.
I, the LORD, am your God.”
“Seven weeks of years shall you count–seven times seven years–
so that the seven cycles amount to forty-nine years.
Then, on the tenth day of the seventh month, let the trumpet resound;
on this, the Day of Atonement, the trumpet blast shall re-echo
throughout your land.
This fiftieth year you shall make sacred
by proclaiming liberty in the land for all its inhabitants.
It shall be a jubilee for you,
when every one of you shall return to his own property,
every one to his own family estate.
In this fiftieth year, your year of jubilee,
you shall not sow, nor shall you reap the aftergrowth
or pick the grapes from the untrimmed vines.
Since this is the jubilee, which shall be sacred for you,
you may not eat of its produce,
except as taken directly from the field.
“In this year of jubilee, then,
every one of you shall return to his own property.
Therefore, when you sell any land to your neighbor
or buy any from him, do not deal unfairly.
On the basis of the number of years since the last jubilee
shall you purchase the land from your neighbor;
and so also, on the basis of the number of years for crops,
shall he sell it to you.
When the years are many, the price shall be so much the more;
when the years are few, the price shall be so much the less.
For it is really the number of crops that he sells you.
Do not deal unfairly, then; but stand in fear of your God.
I, the LORD, am your God.”
Responsorial PsalmPS 67:2-3, 5, 7-8
R. (4) O God, let all the nations praise you!
May God have pity on us and bless us;
may he let his face shine upon us.
So may your way be known upon earth;
among all nations, your salvation.
R. O God, let all the nations praise you!
May the nations be glad and exult
because you rule the peoples in equity;
the nations on the earth you guide.
R. O God, let all the nations praise you!
The earth has yielded its fruits;
God, our God, has blessed us.
May God bless us,
and may all the ends of the earth fear him!
R. O God, let all the nations praise you!
May God have pity on us and bless us;
may he let his face shine upon us.
So may your way be known upon earth;
among all nations, your salvation.
R. O God, let all the nations praise you!
May the nations be glad and exult
because you rule the peoples in equity;
the nations on the earth you guide.
R. O God, let all the nations praise you!
The earth has yielded its fruits;
God, our God, has blessed us.
May God bless us,
and may all the ends of the earth fear him!
R. O God, let all the nations praise you!
GospelMT 14:1-12
Herod the tetrarch heard of the reputation of Jesus
and said to his servants, “This man is John the Baptist.
He has been raised from the dead;
that is why mighty powers are at work in him.”
Now Herod had arrested John, bound him, and put him in prison
on account of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip,
for John had said to him,
“It is not lawful for you to have her.”
Although he wanted to kill him, he feared the people,
for they regarded him as a prophet.
But at a birthday celebration for Herod,
the daughter of Herodias performed a dance before the guests
and delighted Herod so much
that he swore to give her whatever she might ask for.
Prompted by her mother, she said,
“Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist.”
The king was distressed,
but because of his oaths and the guests who were present,
he ordered that it be given, and he had John beheaded in the prison.
His head was brought in on a platter and given to the girl,
who took it to her mother.
His disciples came and took away the corpse
and buried him; and they went and told Jesus.
and said to his servants, “This man is John the Baptist.
He has been raised from the dead;
that is why mighty powers are at work in him.”
Now Herod had arrested John, bound him, and put him in prison
on account of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip,
for John had said to him,
“It is not lawful for you to have her.”
Although he wanted to kill him, he feared the people,
for they regarded him as a prophet.
But at a birthday celebration for Herod,
the daughter of Herodias performed a dance before the guests
and delighted Herod so much
that he swore to give her whatever she might ask for.
Prompted by her mother, she said,
“Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist.”
The king was distressed,
but because of his oaths and the guests who were present,
he ordered that it be given, and he had John beheaded in the prison.
His head was brought in on a platter and given to the girl,
who took it to her mother.
His disciples came and took away the corpse
and buried him; and they went and told Jesus.
Meditation: "Herod the tetrarch heard about
the fame of Jesus"
Do you ever feel
haunted by a past failure or a guilty conscience? 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. He ended up in prison
because of Herodias' jealousy. Herod, out of impulse and a desire to please his
family and friends, had John beheaded. Now his conscience is pricked when
he hears that all the people are going to Jesus to hear his message of
repentance and to see his mighty works. Herod is now haunted by the thought
that the prophet he murdered might now be raised from the dead!Unfortunately for Herod, he could not rid himself of sin by ridding himself of the man who confronted him with his sin. Herod's power and influence was badly flawed. 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. Where do you get the strength of will and heart to choose what is right and to reject what is bad? The Lord gives grace and help to the humble, to those who acknowledge their weanesses and their sinfulness, and who look to God for his mercy and pardon, wisdom and strength. His grace and pardon not only frees us from a guilty conscience, it enables us to pursue holiness in every area of our lives, in our thoughts and intentions as well as our words and actions. God's grace enables us to fight fear with faith and to overcome the temptation to compromise good with evil. Do you rely on God's grace and help to choose his way of holiness and to reject whatever would weaken your faith and loyalty to Christ?
"Heavenly Father, form in me the likeness of your Son Jesus that I may imitate him in word and deed. Help me to live the gospel faithfully and give me the strength and courage I need to not shrink back in the face of hardship and temptation."
 Heeding or Silencing the Conscience |
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Saturday of the
Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time
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Matthew 14: 1-12
Herod the tetrarch
heard of the reputation of Jesus and said to his servants, "This man is
John the Baptist. He has been raised from the dead; that is why mighty powers
are at work in him." Now Herod had arrested John, bound him, and put him
in prison on account of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip, for John
had said to him, "It is not lawful for you to have her." Although
he wanted to kill him, he feared the people, for they regarded him as a
prophet. But at a birthday celebration for Herod, the daughter of Herodias
performed a dance before the guests and delighted Herod so much that he swore
to give her whatever she might ask for. Prompted by her mother, she said,
"Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist." The king
was distressed, but because of his oaths and the guests who were present, he
ordered that it be given, and he had John beheaded in the prison. His head
was brought in on a platter and given to the girl, who took it to her mother.
His disciples came and took away the corpse and buried him; and they went and
told Jesus.
Introductory Prayer: Lord, I believe you are looking for me. You stand ready to
come to me in this moment of prayer. You want to help me see your love and
where I can grow to be more like you. Thank you for your patience and
goodness with me. I want to give myself totally to you.
Petition: Lord, help me to hear your voice more clearly today.
1. A Disturbing
Voice: John the Baptist had
been sent to prepare the way for Christ. He was a witness to the holiness of
God. He tried to awaken the sense of sin and the need for repentance. He
spoke clearly and was afraid of no one. Sometimes the voice of God in my
conscience can be bothersome, like John’s voice was to Herod. Yet a clear
reminder of what is right and wrong is an act of mercy from God. He is giving
us a chance to awaken from our lethargy and realize that our immortal souls
are at stake. I should thank God when my conscience reminds me of things I
need to change in my life.
2. What’s Wrong
With a Little Entertainment? There is nothing wrong with having celebrations in our life
and moments of joy and relaxation. A Christian’s life is rich in moments of
happiness. But, as was the case in Herod’s birthday party, there exists the
danger of looking for entertainment and relaxation in activities or pastimes
which can simply manipulate our passions, weaken our morals, and deeply
offend God. If we are unable to choose our entertainment wisely we can end up
throwing away the richness of our spiritual inheritance for cheap thrills.
Herod ends up as a murderer rather than a good king. His unchecked passions
of sensuality and human respect make him use his power to destroy rather than
protect. I must remember that even in the moments of relaxation I have the
responsibility to protect and foster my Christian identity. I should look for
healthy pastimes where I can share the joy of Christian living with my
friends and family.
3. The
Proverbial Second Chance: When Herod hears of Jesus, his conscience pricks him. He knew
he had killed a man of God. Somewhere in his heart he knew that God would
have the last word. The presence of Christ is an additional grace that the
Father offers Herod so that he may be converted. Unfortunately it is a grace
that Herod will not take advantage of, just as he did not take advantage of
the presence of John the Baptist. In my own life, how many times does the
Father have to remind me of my call to holiness? Do I realize how much mercy
the Lord has already shown me? What is it that I am still withholding from
him? Today I will seek a deep conversion of heart in that area where I know I
have still been withholding myself from God.
Conversation with
Christ: Lord, thank you for
enlightening my conscience with your Gospel. Help me to see where I have
become deaf or insensitive to the call of your teachings. I want your grace
to triumph in my life. Help me to be brave to change what offends you and to
live a life of Christian authenticity.
Resolution: I will receive the sacrament of
reconciliation today and also invite someone else to receive it.
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SATURDAY, AUGUST 3
MATTHEW 14:1-12
MATTHEW 14:1-12
(Leviticus 25:1, 8-17; Psalm 67)
KEY VERSE: "This man is John the Baptist. He has been raised from the dead; that is why mighty powers are at work in him" (v 2).
READING: As Jesus' reputation spread, Herod Antipas, the ruler of Galilee, heard of the marvelous deeds that Jesus had performed. Herod feared that Jesus was John the Baptist raised from the dead. The king hadimprisoned the prophet because of his courageous stance against the ruler's illicit marriage (Lv 18:16, 20:21). Herod wanted to kill the popular prophet, but he was afraid that his death would cause the people to revolt. At Herod's birthday party, he promised his step-daughter that he would grant her any request if she would dance for his guests. Prompted by her mother Herodias, the girl asked for John's head as her reward. Like the prophets before him, John was murdered for proclaiming the truth of God.
REFLECTING: What are the important issues for which I need to take a stand?
PRAYING: Lord Jesus, help me to speak out against the injustices that I see
OPTIONAL MEMORIAL OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY
Chapter V of the Directory on Popular Piety and the Liturgy, issued by the Holy See in December 2001, describes the Church's traditional dedication of Saturday to the Virgin Mary. "Saturdays stand out among those days dedicated to the Virgin Mary. These are designated as memorials of the Blessed Virgin Mary" (218). The chapter also describes the importance of Mary, the Mother of Jesus, in Catholic devotional life, including the Liturgy, and includes reflections on popular devotions to Mary, her feast days, and the Rosary. See the complete document on Vatican web site (www.vatican.va) Directory on Popular Piety and the Liturgy.
O God, let all
the nations praise you!
‘Do not deal unfairly, then; but stand in fear of your God. I the
Lord, am your God.’Leviticus is always a hard read. Nevertheless, the passage carries a simple message in terms of dealing fairly with our neighbours. It is a timeless message.
In the gospel, Herod’s decision to kill John the Baptist is a classic example of unfairness. Rather than a sign of cruelty, it is a sign of his weakness in submitting to the plotting of his wife and her daughter. Rather than take a moral stand and defend John’s rights, Herod consents to kill John out of fear that his capricious household will judge him for breaking the oath to his stepdaughter. His actions stand in dramatic contrast to the command of Leviticus: ‘Do not deal unfairly, then; but stand in fear of your God. I the Lord, I am your God.’
August 2
St. Peter Julian Eymard
(1811-1868)
St. Peter Julian Eymard
(1811-1868)
Born in La Mure d'Isère in southeastern France, Peter Julian's
faith journey drew him from being a priest in the Diocese of Grenoble (1834) to
joining the Marists (1839) to founding the Congregation of the Blessed
Sacrament (1856).
In addition to those changes, Peter Julian coped with poverty, his
father's initial opposition to Peter's vocation, serious illness, a Jansenistic
overemphasis on sin and the difficulties of getting diocesan and later papal
approval for his new religious community.
His years as a Marist, including service as a provincial leader,
saw the deepening of his eucharistic devotion, especially through his preaching
of Forty Hours in many parishes.
Inspired at first by the idea of reparation for indifference to
the Eucharist, Peter Julian was eventually attracted to a more positive
spirituality of Christ-centered love. Members of the men's community, which
Peter founded, alternated between an active apostolic life and contemplating
Jesus in the Eucharist. He and Marguerite Guillot founded the women's
Congregation of the Servants of the Blessed Sacrament.
Peter Julian Eymard was beatified in 1925 and canonized in 1962,
one day after Vatican II's first session ended.
Comment:
In every century, sin has been painfully real in the life of the Church. It is easy to give in to despair, to speak so strongly of human failings that people may forget the immense and self-sacrificing love of Jesus, as his death on the cross and his gift of the Eucharist make evident. Peter Julian knew that the Eucharist was key to helping Catholics live out their Baptism and preach by word and example the Good News of Jesus Christ.
In every century, sin has been painfully real in the life of the Church. It is easy to give in to despair, to speak so strongly of human failings that people may forget the immense and self-sacrificing love of Jesus, as his death on the cross and his gift of the Eucharist make evident. Peter Julian knew that the Eucharist was key to helping Catholics live out their Baptism and preach by word and example the Good News of Jesus Christ.
Quote:
“The Eucharist is the life of the people. The Eucharist gives them a center of life. All can come together without the barriers of race or language in order to celebrate the feast days of the Church. It gives them a law of life, that of charity, of which it is the source; thus it forges between them a common bond, a Christian kinship” (Peter Julian Eymard).
“The Eucharist is the life of the people. The Eucharist gives them a center of life. All can come together without the barriers of race or language in order to celebrate the feast days of the Church. It gives them a law of life, that of charity, of which it is the source; thus it forges between them a common bond, a Christian kinship” (Peter Julian Eymard).
LECTIO: MATTHEW 14,1-12
Lectio:
Saturday, August
3, 2013
Ordinary Time
1) Opening prayer
God our Father and
protector,
without you nothing is holy,
nothing has value.
Guide us to everlasting life
by helping us to use wisely
the blessings you have given to the world.
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.
without you nothing is holy,
nothing has value.
Guide us to everlasting life
by helping us to use wisely
the blessings you have given to the world.
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 -
Matthew 14,1-12
At that time Herod the
tetrarch heard about the reputation of Jesus and said to his court, 'This is
John the Baptist himself; he has risen from the dead, and that is why
miraculous powers are at work in him.' Now it was Herod who had arrested John,
chained him up and put him in prison because of Herodias, his brother Philip's
wife. For John had told him, 'It is against the Law for you to have her.' He
had wanted to kill him but was afraid of the people, who regarded John as a
prophet. Then, during the celebrations for Herod's birthday, the daughter of
Herodias danced before the company and so delighted Herod that he promised on
oath to give her anything she asked. Prompted by her mother she said, 'Give me
John the Baptist's head, here, on a dish.' The king was distressed but,
thinking of the oaths he had sworn and of his guests, he ordered it to be given
her, and sent and had John beheaded in the prison. The head was brought in on a
dish and given to the girl, who took it to her mother.
John's disciples came and took the body and buried it; then they went off to tell Jesus.
John's disciples came and took the body and buried it; then they went off to tell Jesus.
3) Reflection
•Today’s Gospel
describes the way in which John the Baptist was the victim of corruption and of
the arrogance of the government of Herod. He was killed without a process,
during a banquet of the king with the great of the kingdom. The text gives us
much information on the time in which Jesus lived and on the manner in which
power was used by the powerful of that time.
• Matthew 14,1-2. Who is Jesus for Herod. The text begins by informing about the opinion which Herod had of Jesus: "This is John the Baptist himself, he has risen from the dead, and that is why miraculous powers are at work in him”. Herod tries to understand Jesus starting from the fear which assailed him after murdering John. Herod was very superstitious and hid his fear behind the ostentation of his riches and of his power.
• Matthew 14, 3-5: The hidden cause of the murdering of John. 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 38 AD, after Christ. Forty-three years in all! During the time of the life of Jesus, there were no changes of government in Galilee! Herod was the absolute Lord of everything, he did not render an account to anyone, he did whatever passed through his mind. Arrogance, lack of ethics, absolute power, without control from the people! But the one, who commanded in Palestine since the year 63 before Christ, was the Roman Empire. Herod, in Galilee, so as not to be dismissed, tried to please Rome in everything. Above all, he insisted on an efficient administration which would bring riches to the Empire. His concern was his own promotion and his security. For this reason, he refrained from any type of subversion. Matthew says that the reason for murdering John was because he had denounced Herod, because he had married Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip. Flavio Joseph, a Jewish writer of that time, says that the true reason for the imprisonment of John the Baptist was the fear of Herod that there would be a popular revolt. Herod like to be called the benefactor of the people, but in reality he was a tyrant (Lk 22, 25). The denunciation of John against Herod was the drop that caused the glass to overflow: “It is against the Law for you to have her”. And John was put in prison.
• Matthew 14, 6-12: The plot of the murderer. An anniversary and a festive banquet, with dances and orgy! Mark says that in the feast were “the great of the court, the officials and the important people of Galilee” (Mk 6, 21). This is the environment in which the murdering of John the Baptist is planned. John, the prophet, was a living denunciation of that corrupt system. This is why, he was eliminated with the pretext of a problem of personal revenge. All this reveals the moral weakness of Herod. So much power accumulated in the hands of one man incapable to control himself! In the enthusiasm of the feast and of the wine, Herod makes a promise by oath to Salome, the young dancer, daughter of Herodias. Superstitious as he was, he thought that he had to maintain this oath, and respond to the caprice of the girl; and because of this he ordered the soldier to bring the head of John on a tray and give it to the dancer, who then gave it to her mother. For Herod, the life of his subjects was worthless. He disposes of them as he disposes of the staircases in his house!
The three characteristics of the government of Herod: the new Capital, large estates, and the class of functionaries:
a) The New Capital. Tiberiade was inaugurated when Jesus was only 20 years old. It was called like that in order to please Tiberius, the emperor of Rome. It was inhabited by the lords of the earth, the soldiers, the policemen, the unscrupulous judges (Lk 18, 1-4). The taxes and the products of the people were channelled toward it. It was there that Herod made his orgy of death (Mk 6, 21-29). Tiberiades was the city of the palaces of the King, where those who wore soft, delicate dresses lived (cf. Mt 11, 8). It is not known by the Gospels that Jesus entered this city.
b) The large estates. Scholars say that during the long government of Herod, the large estates grew causing harm to community property. The Book of Henoch denounces the lords of the land and expresses the hope of the little ones: “And then the powerful and the great will no longer be the lords of the land”. (Hen 38,4). The ideal of ancient times was the following: “Each one will peacefully sit under his vine and nobody will frighten them” (1 Mac 14,12; Mi 4,4; Zc 3,10). But the politics of the government of Herod made this ideal impossible.
c) The class of functionaries. Herod created a whole class of functionaries faithful to the project of the King: the Scribes, the merchants, the lords of the land, the officers of the market, the tax collectors, the militia, the policemen, the judges, the local heads,. In every village there was a group of persons which supported the government. In the Gospels, some Pharisees appear together with the Herodians (Mk 3, 6; 8, 15; 12, 13), and that shows the alliance between the religious power and the civil power. The life of the people in the villages was very controlled, both by the government and by the religion. Much courage was necessary to begin anything new, as John and Jesus did! It was the same thing as attracting to self the anger of the privileged ones, both from the religious and the civil powers.
• Matthew 14,1-2. Who is Jesus for Herod. The text begins by informing about the opinion which Herod had of Jesus: "This is John the Baptist himself, he has risen from the dead, and that is why miraculous powers are at work in him”. Herod tries to understand Jesus starting from the fear which assailed him after murdering John. Herod was very superstitious and hid his fear behind the ostentation of his riches and of his power.
• Matthew 14, 3-5: The hidden cause of the murdering of John. 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 38 AD, after Christ. Forty-three years in all! During the time of the life of Jesus, there were no changes of government in Galilee! Herod was the absolute Lord of everything, he did not render an account to anyone, he did whatever passed through his mind. Arrogance, lack of ethics, absolute power, without control from the people! But the one, who commanded in Palestine since the year 63 before Christ, was the Roman Empire. Herod, in Galilee, so as not to be dismissed, tried to please Rome in everything. Above all, he insisted on an efficient administration which would bring riches to the Empire. His concern was his own promotion and his security. For this reason, he refrained from any type of subversion. Matthew says that the reason for murdering John was because he had denounced Herod, because he had married Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip. Flavio Joseph, a Jewish writer of that time, says that the true reason for the imprisonment of John the Baptist was the fear of Herod that there would be a popular revolt. Herod like to be called the benefactor of the people, but in reality he was a tyrant (Lk 22, 25). The denunciation of John against Herod was the drop that caused the glass to overflow: “It is against the Law for you to have her”. And John was put in prison.
• Matthew 14, 6-12: The plot of the murderer. An anniversary and a festive banquet, with dances and orgy! Mark says that in the feast were “the great of the court, the officials and the important people of Galilee” (Mk 6, 21). This is the environment in which the murdering of John the Baptist is planned. John, the prophet, was a living denunciation of that corrupt system. This is why, he was eliminated with the pretext of a problem of personal revenge. All this reveals the moral weakness of Herod. So much power accumulated in the hands of one man incapable to control himself! In the enthusiasm of the feast and of the wine, Herod makes a promise by oath to Salome, the young dancer, daughter of Herodias. Superstitious as he was, he thought that he had to maintain this oath, and respond to the caprice of the girl; and because of this he ordered the soldier to bring the head of John on a tray and give it to the dancer, who then gave it to her mother. For Herod, the life of his subjects was worthless. He disposes of them as he disposes of the staircases in his house!
The three characteristics of the government of Herod: the new Capital, large estates, and the class of functionaries:
a) The New Capital. Tiberiade was inaugurated when Jesus was only 20 years old. It was called like that in order to please Tiberius, the emperor of Rome. It was inhabited by the lords of the earth, the soldiers, the policemen, the unscrupulous judges (Lk 18, 1-4). The taxes and the products of the people were channelled toward it. It was there that Herod made his orgy of death (Mk 6, 21-29). Tiberiades was the city of the palaces of the King, where those who wore soft, delicate dresses lived (cf. Mt 11, 8). It is not known by the Gospels that Jesus entered this city.
b) The large estates. Scholars say that during the long government of Herod, the large estates grew causing harm to community property. The Book of Henoch denounces the lords of the land and expresses the hope of the little ones: “And then the powerful and the great will no longer be the lords of the land”. (Hen 38,4). The ideal of ancient times was the following: “Each one will peacefully sit under his vine and nobody will frighten them” (1 Mac 14,12; Mi 4,4; Zc 3,10). But the politics of the government of Herod made this ideal impossible.
c) The class of functionaries. Herod created a whole class of functionaries faithful to the project of the King: the Scribes, the merchants, the lords of the land, the officers of the market, the tax collectors, the militia, the policemen, the judges, the local heads,. In every village there was a group of persons which supported the government. In the Gospels, some Pharisees appear together with the Herodians (Mk 3, 6; 8, 15; 12, 13), and that shows the alliance between the religious power and the civil power. The life of the people in the villages was very controlled, both by the government and by the religion. Much courage was necessary to begin anything new, as John and Jesus did! It was the same thing as attracting to self the anger of the privileged ones, both from the religious and the civil powers.
4) Personal questions
• Do you know any
persons who died victims of corruption and domination of the powerful? And here
among us, in our community and in the Church, are there victims of
authoritarianism and of the abuse of power?
• Herod, the powerful, who thought he was the lord of life and death of people, was a coward before the great and a corrupt flatterer before the girl who danced. Cowardice and corruption marked the exercise of the power of Herod. Compare all this with the exercise of religious power and civil orgy, in the different levels of society and of the Church.
• Herod, the powerful, who thought he was the lord of life and death of people, was a coward before the great and a corrupt flatterer before the girl who danced. Cowardice and corruption marked the exercise of the power of Herod. Compare all this with the exercise of religious power and civil orgy, in the different levels of society and of the Church.
5) Concluding Prayer
The humble have seen
and are glad.
Let your courage revive, you who seek God.
For God listens to the poor,
he has never scorned his captive people. (Ps 69,32-33)
Let your courage revive, you who seek God.
For God listens to the poor,
he has never scorned his captive people. (Ps 69,32-33)
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