＊＊＊1st Reading＊＊＊

Jeremiah 1: 17-19

 But you, get ready for action; stand up and say to them all that I com­mand you. Be not scared of them or I will scare you in their presence!

See, I will make you a fortified city, a pillar of iron with walls of bronze, against all the nations, against the kings and princes of Judah, against the priests and the people of the land.   They will fight against you but shall not overcome you, for I am with you to rescue you – it is Yahweh who speaks.”

 

＊＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊＊

Mark 6: 17-29

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 and said to 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.

 

Reflection gospel：

“DISTURBED WHENEVER HE HEARD HIM.”

For some truth is disturbing. They dread it because it confronts them head-on. Truth reveals their true color and motive. While for others, truth is a friend, guiding and giving them direction. When one aligns herself/himself to the truth, it brings peace of mind; it calms the spirit.

When Pontius Pilate asked Jesus “What is truth?”, Jesus did not reply because the truth is already before him in his person. Before Pilate already stands the truth, and it confronts him. As a result, Pilate felt uneasy; he was disturbed.

When truth presents itself before us, there are only two natural response, namely:(1)we welcome it; or (2)we reject it. If we welcome it, we are led to the good and genuinely valuable; but, if we reject it, we lead ourselves (and others)to corruption and harm.