Word to the Wise
Saturday, August 2, 2014 - Saturday in the 17th Week in Ordinary Time
[Jer 26:11-16, 24 and Matt 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."
Herod knew John the Baptist was dead! He had executed him to save face at a banquet when he foolishly promised his stepdaughter anything she wanted after she had pleased him with a dance! John the Baptist had publicly condemned Herod's marriage to her mother who looked for a chance to take revenge!
In today's first scripture from Jeremiah, the prophet barely escapes being lynched because of his preaching about reforming the temple and the nation! It can be a very risky thing to be a prophet!
Jesus would suffer the fate of prophets. [ Interestingly enough, Herod was not the only one who thought Jesus was John the Baptist raised from the dead. When Jesus asked his disciples, "Who do people say that I am?" they replied, "Some say John the Baptist....!" ] Herod's belief is ironic because Jesus would indeed be raised from the dead. Like John the Baptist, Jesus would be handed over to the Romans out of spite by the Jerusalem authorities whom he had challenged. The "cleansing of the temple" was the last straw.
Jeremiah, John the Baptist, and Jesus would all challenge existing powers and ways of living. How do we react to individuals who confront us in that way? What if their messages "disturb the peace?" AMEN