St. Agatha, virgin & martyr 

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊

Hebrews 13:1-8

 

Ps 27:1, 3, 5, 8b-9abc

The Lord is my light and my salvation.

 

＊＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊＊

Mark 6:14-29

 King Herod also heard about Jesus

Because his name had become well-known. Some people said, “John the Baptist has been raised from the dead and that is why miraculous powers are at work in him.” Others thought, “He is Eli­jah,” and others, “He is a pro­phet like the pro­phets of times past.”

 When Herod was told of this, he thought: “I had John beheaded, yet he has risen from the dead!”  For this is what had happened. Herod had ordered John to be arrested and had him bound and put in prison because of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip.

Herod had married her and John had told him, “It is not right for you to live with your brother’s wife.” So Herodias held a grudge against John and wanted to kill him, but she could not be­cause Herod respected John. He knew John to be an upright and holy man and kept him safe.

And he liked listening to him, although he became very disturbed whenever he heard him.  Herodias had her chance on Herod’s birthday, when he gave a dinner for all the senior government officials, military chiefs and the leaders of Gali­­lee.

 On that occasion the daughter of Herodias came in and danced; and she delighted Herod and his guests. The king said to the girl, “Ask me for anything you want and I will give it to you.” And he went so far as to say with many oaths, “I will give you anything you ask, even half my king­dom.” 

She went out to consult her mother, “What shall I ask for?” The mother replied, “The head of John the Baptist.” The girl hurried to the king and made her request: “I want you to give me the head of John the Baptist, here and now, on a dish.”

 The king was very displeased, but he would not refuse in front of his guests because of his oaths. So he sent one of the bodyguards with orders to bring John’s head. He went and beheaded John in prison; then he brought the head on a dish and gave it to the girl. And the girl gave it to her mother. When John’s disciples heard of this, they came and took his body and buried it.

 

Gospel Reflection：

Herod is a good case study on how leaders should behave. They should not promise anything when they are very happy. They might pledge something that is more than what they could usually provide.

And being stuck to the promise, they have no recourse but to fulfill it even at the expense of their peace of mind. Thus Herod is now haunted by the ghost of John whom he beheaded because of his promise to the daughter of Herodias.

Herodias had an ax to grind against John because he criticized her living together with her brother-in-law, Herod. She seized the moment when Herod promised too much to her daughter. Thus, not only grudge but excessive happiness as well could be recipes for disaster.