One can not kill Truth/Good Things

*Gospel Thoughts*

*17th Week : Saturday*

*GOSPEL Matthew - 14 : 1 - 12*

*One can't kill Good Things/Truth*

*1) Herod Killed John but not the Truth*

As we read the narration in the gospel, Herod succeeded in killing the John the Baptist, whom he had imprisoned for questioning his immoral life 

So it is very clear that Herod had killed John the Baptist and the disciples of John came and took his body and they buried it. 

*2)Herod sees John the Baptist in Jesus*

When Herod heard about Jesus' reputation, His mighty power to work miracles, His teachings and His extraordinary powers, Herod thought that it was John the Baptist, who has come back to life and along with it the extraordinary powers are also active in him. 

In fact Herod knew the extraordinary powers of John the Baptist, His integrity and moral life. So Herod believed that John was an extraordinary man with special mighty powers 

Now John also sure that he had murdered such a powerful man and he does not exist any more. 

But when He sees Jesus and His mighty powers He identifies Jesus with John the Baptist 

*What does this mean?*

- Herod could not succeed in killing the mighty power of John

-Herod could not succeed in controlling the divine power 

Herod could not succeed in silencing the Truth 

Herod could not succeed to put an end to justice and truth 

Herod could not control the voice which was crying in the wilderness

Finally, with the Murder of John the Baptist, Herod could not control the plan of God, spread of the Kingdom of God and Voice of the conscience

*3)Mighty powers will always be at Work*

Mighty powers are identified with God's power 

To each human being, God has given mighty powers. Some of the mighty powers may be the following

Power to Think - Think Good and Think for others

Power to see, hear, understand, experience,  feel, and to resist the temptations of devil.

Power to walk, work, and to face any types of challenges. 

These are some of the mighty powers in our lives, which are mighty gifts of the Lord to us. Are we using these God given mighty powers for the spread of the Kingdom of God? 

*4) The mystery of Death, resurrection and the work of the mighty powers*

This particular phrase refers to John' Death, resurrection and mighty works, which Herod sees in Jesus. 

Now there is a beautiful logic is found in Death, resurrection and works of the mighty powers. 

Here something dies, something becomes alive and mighty powers become active to perform something extraordinary. 

The above logic can be applied to our life in an beautiful way. 

In our life death of following things give rise to the following things 

Death of pride gives rise to the humility

Death of Ego gives to rise to simplicity

Death of anger gives rise to peace

Death of selfishness gives rise to generosity

Death of arrogance gives rise to  reconciliation

Death of greed gives rise to sharing 

Death of revenge gives rise to reconciliation

Death of lies gives rise to sincerity and truth

Death of injustice gives rise to Justice 

All the above mentioned things humility, simplicity, peace, justice, reconciliation, sharing, generosity are mighty powers which work wonders in our lives. 

So death of something give rise to something, which work in us like a mighty powers to perform great miracles. 

Am I ready to revive my God given  mighty powers by putting and end to those things which are hurdles to mighty powers????

*God bless you and your family. Praying for you and your dear onces*

*Fr Maxim Dsouza*

*Jeppu Seminary*

*Mangalore*