March 26                                                                Mark 6:13-29

John the Baptist had more followers than Jesus and everybody loved his sermons.  King Herod thought John was very smart and well-spoken and sometimes John would talk to Herod.  John found out and told everyone that King Herod was bad because he was having an affair with his brother's wife.  King Herod was mad but he was afraid to kill him because he had a large crowd.  One night when Herod had a party, his daughter danced in front of his friends and himself.  She danced so beautifully that King Herod told her that she could have anything she wanted.  The girl asked her mother and she said the head of John the Baptist.  King Herod accepted this and sent a soldier to kill John and bring the head to the girl.

                                         Samuel Medeiros

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When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed; and yet he liked to listen to him...The king was deeply grieved; yet out of regard for his oaths and for his guests, he did not want to refuse her. (verses 20 and 26)

John was an engaging and surly figure in the court of King Herod. In today's reading we are told that he was liked by the king, a bold man who made him think. Yet, John's forthright calls for repentance and upright living were hard to receive in a world always in motion. Daily we experience the same push and pull of fulfilling the needs of others and for ourselves.

But then Herod's birthday came and caught up in the exuberant festivities, some might say he went too far, granted a great boon to Herodias for pleasing him and his guests so wonderfully with her talented dancing. This gospel goes on to reveal the painful cost of fulfilling one's oath and made by a king was as absolute as the law he administrates. What could he do and not lose face? What hope could there be for a prophet who so vibrantly called for all who heard him to make way for the Lord? John preached this making way through repentance and a willingness to receive baptism in water as prelude for the divine fire of God.

John's fate at the hands of an earthly king was a culmination of the prophet's earthly path. To proclaim sets things in motion and as we read earlier in this same chapter, "Prophets are not without honor, except in their hometown, and among their own kin, and even in their own house." (verse 4)

Ponder and pray today:  Lord, while I do not fully know the path set before me, give me the strength to be clear in thinking before I act for myself and share with me your bountiful grace to proclaim your loving presence without fear.