The Gospel For Friday, the fourth week in Ordinary Time is taken from Mark 6, 1429. King Herod heard about Jesus, where his fame had become widespread and people were saying, john the Baptist has been raised from the dead. That is why mighty powers are at work in him. Others were saying, he is Elijah. Still others, he is the prophet like any of the prophets. But when Herod learned of it, he said, it is John whom I beheaded.
He has been raised up. Herod was the one who had John arrested and bound in prison on account of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip, whom he had married. John had said to Herod, it is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife. Herodias harbored a grudge against him and wanted to kill him, but was unable to do so. Herod feared John, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man, and kept him in custody. When he heard him speak, he was very much perplexed, yet he liked to listen to him.
Herodias had an opportunity one day when Herod, on his birthday, gave a banquet for his courtiers, his military offers and the leading men of Galilee. His own daughter came in and performed a dance that delighted Herod and his guests. The king said to the girl, ask me whatever you wish and I will grant it to you. He even swore many things to her. I will give you whatever you ask of me, even half of my kingdom. She went out and said to her mother, what shall I ask for?
Her mother replied, the head of John the Baptist. The girl hurried back to the king’s presence and made her request. I want you to give me at once on a platter, the head of John the Baptist. The king was deeply distressed, but because of his oath and his guest. But because of his oath and the guest, he did not wish to break his word to her. So he promptly despatched an executioner with the orders to bring back his head.
He went off and beheaded him. In prison. He brought in the head on a platter and gave it to the girl. The girl in turn gave it to her mother. When his disciples heard about it, they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb. Herodias gets a lot of attention in this reading, and that’s the way it should be.
But I’d like to look for a minute at Herod, because Herod was an interesting character who had John the Baptist imprisoned. And then, almost as if he said, I want him here so I can go and listen to him, because I don’t know exactly what he’s saying. But I really like listening to him. It’s a beautiful image of Herod as a man who is really attracted perhaps to the truth. And when confronted with who is Jesus? He proclaims he thinks that he’s really John the Baptist reincarnated.
Closing Prayer Father, you have placed something inside of us that somehow knows when something is true. It’s your spirit living in us. The Holy Spirit is truth, is life, is light. And when we see that in someone else, we’re drawn to it naturally. Help us always to be aware of those that carry the truth, and let us surrender to what it is they’re seeking to tell us. And we ask this in Jesus name, amen.