GOSPEL

July 31, 2021 (Saturday)

17th Week in Ordinary Time St. Ignatius of Loyola, priest Psalter: Week 1 (Green)/White Responsorial Psalm: Ps 67: 23, 5, 78

O God, let all the nations praise you!

Gospel: Mt 14: 1-12

At that time the news about Jesus reached King Herod. And he said to his servants, “This man is John the Baptist. John has risen from the dead, and that is why miraculous powers are at work in him.”

Herod had, in fact, ordered that John be arrested, bound in chains and put in prison because of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip. For John had said to him, “It is not right for you to have her as wife.” Herod wanted to kill him but he did not dare, because he feared the people who regarded John as a prophet.

On Herod’s birthday the daughter of Herodias danced in the midst of the guests; she so delighted Herod that he promised under oath to give her anything she asked. The girl, following the advice of her mother, said, “Give me the head of John the Baptist here on a dish.”

The king was very displeased, but because he had made this promise under oath in the presence of the guests, he ordered it to be given her. So he had John beheaded in prison and his head brought on a dish and given to the girl. The girl then took it to her mother. Then John’s disciples came to take his body and bury it. Then they went told Jesus.

Reflection:

Herod is reminded of John whom he had beheaded because of a promise he made to Herodias‘ daughter in front of the leading men of the kingdom. He could not backtrack caught by his own oath in front of others. In the Mediterranean world, to have face is very important. Shame is something abhorred. That is why Herod’s hand was tied during that time by his pride. He gave in to the request and lived a life of regret thereafter. It is worse already because he has to live with the guilt of his actions. Now it is even more since the specter of John is confronting him alive in the person of Jesus. And so let us not rush in doing things that may lead us to unending regrets all the days of our life. For we will live insecure lives that will make us jump nervously every time the ghost of our guilt comes to visit us unbidden.