Message of Abbot Paul - Friday 4th February

Message from Fr Paul for Friday, 4th February 2022

 Mark’s account of the death or martyrdom of John the Baptist, (Mk 6: 14-29), really begins with King Herod entering into the debate about the true identity of Jesus. We read, “King Herod had heard about Jesus, since by now his name was well known. Some were saying, ‘John the Baptist has risen from the dead, and that is why miraculous powers are at work in him.’ Others said, ‘He is Elijah’; others again, ‘He is a prophet, like the prophets we used to have.’ But when Herod heard this, he said, ‘It is John whose head I cut off; he has risen from the dead.’” Herod hasn’t met Jesus, but is curious to see him, yet even without knowing him is convinced that he must be John the Baptist risen from the dead. Were they so alike?

 This questioning serves as an introduction to the rather sordid account of John’s death in prison at the hands of Herod, but at the behest of a dancing girl, albeit his wife’s daughter. “Now it was this same Herod who had sent to have John arrested, and had him chained up in prison because of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife whom he had married. For John had told Herod, ‘It is against the law for you to have your brother’s wife.’ As for Herodias, she was furious with him and wanted to kill him; but she was not able to, because Herod was afraid of John, knowing him to be a good and holy man, and gave him his protection. When he had heard him speak, he was greatly perplexed, and yet he liked to listen to him.” The relationship between Herod and John was complex: he loved him and he hated him. He enjoyed listening to him, but his wife Herodias loathed John and wanted him dead for pronouncing negatively against the marriage, which he had every right to do. It’s a marriage that should not have taken place as it transgressed the law of Israel. Even so, Herod protected him, but Herodias was a cunning woman and Herod weak and predictable. She knew his weaknesses, so she bided her time. 

“An opportunity came on Herod’s birthday when he gave a banquet for the nobles of his court, for his army officers and for the leading figures in Galilee. When the daughter of this same Herodias came in and danced, she delighted Herod and his guests; so the king said to the girl, ‘Ask me anything you like and I will give it you.’ And he swore her an oath, ‘I will give you anything you ask, even half 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 straight back to the king and made her request, ‘I want you to give me John the Baptist’s head, here and now, on a dish.’ The king was deeply distressed but, thinking of the oaths he had sworn and of his guests, he was reluctant to break his word to her. So the king at once sent one of the bodyguard with orders to bring John’s head. The man went off and beheaded him 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 about this, they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.” This sad tale reads more like the storyline for a Hollywood epic, at least the ones they used to make! In his cups, Herod loses his guard and before he realises what he’s done, he’s given in to the charms of the girl and the wiles of her mother. For fear of losing face with his army officers and other officials, has no choice but to ask for the head of John. What a lesson this is to us all not to make rash promises in a moment when passion takes the place of common sense and human decency. Lord, grant us the grace, like John, always to stand up for what is right, true and just, even at the cost of losing our own lives. Amen.