John the Baptist, The Real King of the Truth

GOSPEL THOUGHTS

*Ordinary Season: Twenty First Week : Thursday*

*The Passion of St John the Baptist*

*Gospel : Mk 6:17-29*

*First Reading : Jer 1:17-19*

*Responsorial Psalm : Ps 71:1-2, 3-4a, 5-6ab, 15ab and 17*

*John the Baptist, The Real King of the Truth*

*1) The King in the Event*

Today's Gospel mention about a king and whose name is also given 

The King's Name is Herod, who had imprisoned, John for challenging his Moral life 

*2) The Prisoner*

In the Gospel scene John is shown as the prisoner, because he is in the Prison. 

King Herod had put him in prison. So John is seen as the prisoner in the Gospel scene 

*3) The Real King*

But a careful analysis and the spirit of the Gospel shows a totally different equation 

John emerges as the Real King. Because king is the one who is courageous. John was a courageous man, who feared no one except to God 

The real King is the one who can speak truth in all circumstances. John is the one who spoke the truth courageously and powerfully

King is the one who is able to sacrifice his life for others. John is the one who sacrificed his life for others 

A real King is the one who can live a moral life and who can preach about morality. John is the one who preached about moral life and lived a upright moral life 

A real king is the one who can condemn the evil and uphold the truth. John is the one who condemned the evil and upheld the truth 

*4) The coward Prisoner*

John is not the real prisoner. The so called King Herod is the real prisoner and Slave 

Herod was the prisoner and slave of His emotions

Herod was the prisoner and slave of Herodias, who controlled him from her manipulative and wicked attitude

Herod was prisoner and slave of sensual pleasure. So he sold himself to Salome, by making her foolish promises 

Herod was prisoner and slave of power, ego, position authority and status. Such imprisonment through these things led him to murder the innocent and holy man 

Herod was a prisoner and slave of worldly things. That's why he didn't give importance to the voice of the conscience and to right things. 

Herod was the prisoner and slave of His identity before the so called elite people. So he didn't want to say no to the evil things. Finally he yeilded to the grave sin od murdering the Holy man 

Such a terrible prisoner or slave can never be a King

*5) The dead Herodias*

From the scene it appears that John is the dead person. Physically he might have dead 

But the real dead person was the Herodias, because 

She was dead to the conscience

She was dead to the truth

She was dead to the morality 

She was dead to the forgiveness

She was dead to the sincerity

A person who was dead to these above things, is really dead to life. His/Her life has no meaning in any context 

*6) My Life*

How about these characters in my life 

Am I a king of my life.

The so called King Herod, but who was the prisoner of many things, could never be a real king 

John the Baptist who appears to be a prisoner, but emerges as the Real great King of truth, justice and morality

Herodias, who is the evil incarnate, appears to be one who succeeded in fulfilling her revenge against John, but dead for ever 

Is my life like Herod, John the Baptist or Herodias??

*Think about it*

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

*Fr Maxim DSouza*

*Jeppu Seminary*

*Mangalore*