'It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife.'
he was a man of integrity. John the Baptist was beheaded because he spoke truth to power.
Truly,  The king was ‘much perplexed’ whose conscience pulls him one way.
But because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he did not want to refuse her.

 

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊ 

１Corinthians 2:1-5

When I came to reveal to you he

Mystery of God’s plan I did not count on eloquence or on a show of learning.  I was determined not to know anything among you but Jesus, the Messiah, and a crucified Messiah.  I myself came weak, fearful and trem­bling;  my words and preach­ing were not brilliant or clever to win listeners.  

It was, rather, a demonstration of spirit and power, so that your faith might be a matter, not of human wisdom, but of God’s power.

 

Ps 119:97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102

 

＊＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊＊    

Mark 6:17-29

 For this is what had happened. Herod had ordered John to be arrested and had him bound and put in prison because of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip. Herod had married her  and John had told him, “It is not right for you to live with your brother’s wife.”   

So Herodias held a grudge against John and wanted to kill him, but she could not  be­cause Herod respected John. He knew John to be an upright and holy man and kept him safe. And he liked listening to him, although he became very disturbed whenever he heard him.

Herodias had her chance on Herod’s birthday, when he gave a dinner for all the senior government officials, military chiefs and the leaders of Gali­­lee.   On that occasion the daughter of Herodias came in and danced; and she delighted Herod and his guests.

The king said to the girl, “Ask me for anything you want and I will give it to you.”  And he went so far as to say with many oaths, “I will give you anything you ask, even half my king­dom.”  She went out to consult her mother, “What shall I ask for?” The mother replied, “The head of John the Baptist.”

The girl hurried to the king and made her request: “I want you to give me the head of John the Baptist, here and now, on a dish.”

 The king was very displeased, but he would not refuse in front of his guests because of his oaths.  So he sent one of the bodyguards with orders to bring John’s head. He went and beheaded John in prison;   then he brought the head on a dish and gave it to the girl. And the girl gave it to her mother.  When John’s disciples heard of this, they came and took his body and buried it.

 

 Gospel Reflection：

Ask of a Lifetime

A young man was consumed with the desire to know life’s meaning. He heard about an all-knowing guru who lived on a mountain, who could answer him.

However, no one before him had succeeded in reaching there, for the mountain was very dangerous to climb. Besides, the legend was that one could ask only one question to the guru.

The man knew what to ask. And he resolutely climbed the mountain and reached the top. He was ceremoniously taken to the seat of the guru. To his utter disbelief, the guru was a young, beautiful woman.

As he stood stunned, the lady guru said:”Ask your only question.”Stutteringly he asked:”Madam, are you married?”

Think now: Of all the things in the world Salome could have asked for, she asked for the head of John the Baptist! What could she have done with it, unless she were a cannibal? What a waste of an opportunity of a lifetime! But, how different are we before God?