Herod's Worldly Birthday Vs John the Baptist's Heavenly Birthday

GOSPEL THOUGHTS

*Ordinary Season : 22nd  Week : Monday*

*Gospel : Mark 6:17-29*

*First Reading : Jer 1:17-19*

*Herod's Worldly Birthday  Vs John the Baptist's Heavenly Birthday*

*1) The Birthday of Herod*

The birthday of Herod becomes the central issue for the event to take place 

The whole party was organised in the context of Herod's birthday. 

Birthday of Herod became an opportunity to organise the Whole event and many more things to Happen. 

*2) The tragedy of Herod's Birthday*

Birthday of Herod would have become one of the best event to celebrate and to enjoy the day 

It started with the same spirit and every one was enjoying the everything that was there in the birthday party 

Suddenly there was a twist to the birthday party. The whole mood of celebration truns into the sad mood because of Herodias. 

Herodias uses this beautiful birthday mood, for something else, which spoils the whole mood of birthday and also of Herod and of his guests 

The Happy mood turns into a sad mood. This is the tragedy of Herod's birthday

*3) The Birthday of Herod and the grudge of Herodias*

Herodias harbored a grudge against John the Baptist for challenging her immoral life. That's why she wanted to kill him

Birthday of Herod was an easy opportunity to take revenge on John. 

Finally she succeeded in beheading the Prophet for challenging her immoral life 

*4) Herod's birthday will remain a sadest  day in His life*

Since John was beheaded on the birthday of Herod, because of Herodias, the birthday of Herod will remain as a memorable day, not because of the good deed, but because of the wicked deed

History will remember for ever, Herod for his evil and wicked deed. 

So birthday of Herod becomes a death day of his conscience and entry into heavenly life 

This is the tragedy of Herod's life 

*5) The Birthday of John the Baptist to Eternal life*

Since John was beheaded on the day of the birthday of Herod, John was born to eternal life on the same day 

The eternal birthday of John the Baptist was more important and valuable than the heavenly birthday of Herod

The heavenly birthday of John the Baptist has no end. Its eternal

It will be celebrated forever because of the importance of the eternal birthday

Eternal birthday is the main aim of our life and we should do all the possible good things to be born into the eternal kingdom

One should consider and value more than heavenly birthday than the Earthly birthday

*6) Earthly birthday and Heavenly birthday in our Life*

Our earhly birthday should become an opportunity to prepare ourselves for the heavenly birthday

We should never allow our earthly birthday as an hindrance for heavenly birthday. 

All of us have a duty to protecting our heavenly birth, and we need to prepare a lot for this event in life 

Let everything happens in our life help us to prepare ourselves for heavenly birth 

*Think about it*

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

*Fr Maxim DSouza*

*Jeppu Seminary*

*Mangalore*