Word to the Wise
Tuesday, August 29, 2023 - Tuesday in the 21th Week in Ordinary Time
[1 Thess 2:1-8 and Mark 6:17-29]But as we were judged worthy by God to be entrusted with the Gospel, that is how we speak, not as trying to please men, but rather God, who judges our hearts. [1 Thessalonians]
AUGUST 29 THE PASSION OF ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST
The liturgical powers-that-be decided not long ago that the title of this feast, which used to be "the Beheading of St. John the Baptist," was a bit too graphic, so they changed it to "the Passion of St. John the Baptist." The title change didn't change what happened, however. John the Baptist had publicly criticized Herod for marrying a lady who was both his niece and sister-in-law!! That got him (John) put in jail. But Herodias (the lady in question) had a grudge about it and waited her chance. Herod's public drunken promise to his dancing stepdaughter (tradition calls her "Salome") gave her that opportunity. The rest is gruesome history, ably reported by the evangelist, Mark!
Speaking the truth to powerful people can be dangerous. The long list of martyrs is testimony to that. Given the facts of this feast, the names of St. Thomas More and St. John Fisher easily come to my mind. They lost their lives to a refusal to acknowledge Henry VIII's desire for an annulment and his self-declaration as head of the Church of England. More recently, Archbishop Romero or the Maryknoll sisters in Central America can stand out.
St. Paul's words in today's first scripture, quoted above, put it clearly. He did not speak so as to please people. He spoke "gospel truth," which can be threatening to folks who do not consider themselves accountable to God. We may not all be called to be martyrs (thank goodness!) but we can ask if our faith is worth our life. The answer may be edifying or embarrassing. AMEN