Word to the Wise
Saturday, August 4, 2007 - St. John Mary Vianney [The Cure of Ars]
[Leviticus 25:1, 8-17 and Matthew 14:1-12]Prompted by her mother, she said, "Give me here 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.
John the Baptist deserved a better fate! To be martyred because one has offended a member of the royal family is bad enough, but to have it happen because of a dancing girl's performance seems downright tawdry! Herod was put in a social bind and did not want to be embarrassed in front of the guests and also did not want his wife or the dancing girl upset with him. And this was worth a man's life! We in the west may shake our heads at the importance in eastern cultures of maintaining "face" or "honor." But we do it all the time ourselves. Lying to avoid embarrassment is rampant, especially in public officials or celebrities. And if the lie hurts someone else, it's just too bad. In sum, truth can be in short supply in public affairs (let alone private matters) because a false sense of honor demands that one's own rear be covered and no one else's reputation matters. What makes Jesus' example so compelling is its transparency. No face-saving and no lying. In the Middle East that is a radical departure from the cultural norm. Sadly, it seems to be the cultural norm in our country too. It is truly ironic to find folks trying to "save honor" by acting dishonorably! We as Christians can do a lot better! AMEN
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