The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today invite us to contemplate the message for our lives in the accounts of the lives of David, Herod, and John the Baptist.
Contemplate Forgiveness
The reading from the Book of Sirach praises David as a hero.
* [47:1–11] An idealized portrait of David; cf. 1 Chronicles.1
Psalm 18 is a royal thanksgiving for victory.
* [Psalm 18] A royal thanksgiving for a military victory, duplicated in 2 Sm 22. Thanksgiving Psalms are in essence reports of divine rescue. The Psalm has two parallel reports of rescue, the first told from a heavenly perspective (Ps 18:5–20), and the second from an earthly perspective (Ps 18:36–46). The first report adapts old mythic language of a cosmic battle between sea and rainstorm in order to depict God’s rescue of the Israelite king from his enemies. Each report has a short hymnic introduction (Ps 18:2–4, 32–36) and conclusion (Ps 18:21–31, 47–50).2
The Gospel of Mark relates the events leading to the death of John the Baptist.
* [6:17–29] Similarities are to be noted between Mark’s account of the imprisonment and death of John the Baptist in this pericope, and that of the passion of Jesus (Mk 15:1–47). Herod and Pilate, each in turn, acknowledges the holiness of life of one over whom he unjustly exercises the power of condemnation and death (Mk 6:26–27; 15:9–10, 14–15). The hatred of Herodias toward John parallels that of the Jewish leaders toward Jesus. After the deaths of John and of Jesus, well-disposed persons request the bodies of the victims of Herod and of Pilate in turn to give them respectful burial (Mk 6:29; 15:45–46).3
Edward Morse shares that his heart aches for Herod. Like Shakespeare’s Lady Macbeth, he is haunted by the guilt of murder. He knew that John the Baptist was an innocent man and a prophet of God, but he chose to kill him anyway. Herod knew enough about God to fear His justice. But he did not know God well enough to understand that His mercy endures forever and His forgiveness is offered to a repentant heart. Herod could not grasp that grave sin – even murder – could be forgiven, and so he was forced to live in fear of impending doom and without the hope of salvation.
We should be mindful of these two examples as we struggle with our failures and sins. If we choose Herod’s path, dwelling only on our failures and faults, we neglect the hope and joy of the salvation that is offered to us. Christ died to save sinners like us. He did this while we were yet sinners, rather than waiting until we manifested heroic virtues. Let us choose instead to follow David’s path, which relies wholly upon the goodness and mercy of our God. How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? Thanks be to God.4
Don Schwager quotes “The Weakness of the Tyrant and the Power of the Beheaded”, by John Chrysostom (347-407 AD).
"Note well the weakness of the tyrant compared to the power of the one in prison. Herod was not strong enough to silence his own tongue. Having opened it, he opened up countless other mouths in its place and with its help. As for John, he immediately inspired fear in Herod after his murder - for fear was disturbing Herod's conscience to such an extent that he believed John had been raised from the dead and was performing miracles (Mark 6:14-16)! In our own day and through all future time, throughout all the world, John continues to refute Herod, both through himself and through others. For each person repeatedly reading this Gospel says: 'It is not lawful for you to have the wife of Philip your brother' (Mark 6:18). And even apart from reading the Gospel, in assemblies and meetings at home or in the market, in every place... even to the very ends of the earth, you will hear this voice and see that righteous man even now still crying out, resounding loudly, reproving the evil of the tyrant. He will never be silenced nor the reproof at all weakened by the passing of time." (excerpt from ON THE PROVIDENCE OF GOD 22.8-9)5
The Word Among Us Meditation on Mark 6:14-29 comments that though we aren’t called to be prophets in the wilderness like John, we all have moments when we need to be courageous. There may be situations in which we have to choose honesty and integrity when it would be easier to hide the truth or just tell a lie. Or speak up when a work colleague is being treated unfairly. Or counsel a friend with compassion if we see that person going down an unhealthy path.
Situations like these can be challenging. But even as you acknowledge your fears, don’t let your emotions paralyze you. The next time you feel afraid, take a deep breath, say a quick prayer, and then do what you need to do. Even one small step in the right direction will give you the courage to keep moving forward. And while you might still feel afraid, you can count on the Lord to help you act courageously. In the end, that’s what matters the most. God needs courageous disciples in the world today. May we face our fears by trusting in his grace and wisdom! “Lord, help me to have courage today to face whatever situations lie ahead.”6
Friar Jude Winkler shares the history of the Book of Sirach as a response to the Greek culture and heroes that accompanied the empire of Alexander the Great. The forgiveness sought by David is contrasted with the lack of respect for human life shown by Herod. Friar Jude reminds us of the respect and dignity required for precious human life.
James Finley has taught extensively on lectio divina and Guigo II. In the most recent season of his podcast Turning to the Mystics, he describes the intention to be present to God that underlies all lectio divina practice.
The first rung of the ladder is that of reading the Scriptures as a way of seeking God. Then, in the midst of a quiet, sincere seeking, there is the graced event of coming upon words that embody that which we seek. As we read, we come upon something of God’s presence in that which we are reading. And in coming upon that which we seek, we descend into the depths of our awakened heart, from which there emerge thoughts, images, and connotations that simply flow out, without being seized or grasped hold of in any way. . . . Daily meditation practice goes best as we learn to stand firmly on the first rung of the ladder to heaven. By this I mean learning to be attentive to God’s voice reverberating in a poem, a novel, the refrains of a song, a report on the evening news, or a conversation overheard in the waiting room at the doctor’s office. In learning to stand firmly on the first rung of the ladder to heaven, we learn to be receptive and open to God, uttering us into existence as we wash out a pot, or fix a broken gate, or slip off our shoes at the end of the day. [3] 7
We are open to inspiration by the Spirit as we ponder our connection to the lives described in Sacred Scripture.
References
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