The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today resonate with the difficulty we encounter when circumstances or our poorly considered decisions bring unexpected consequences with poor outcomes.
In the reading from the Prophet Jeremiah, Jeremiah is threatened with Death.
* [26:24] Ahikam, son of Shaphan: one of Josiah’s officials (2 Kgs 22:12) and Jeremiah’s friend. He was the father of Gedaliah, who was governor of Judah after Zedekiah’s deportation (cf. Jer 39:14; 40:5–7). (Jeremiah, CHAPTER 26 | USCCB, n.d.)
Psalm 69 is a prayer for Deliverance from Persecution.
* [Psalm 69] A lament complaining of suffering in language both metaphorical (Ps 69:2–3, 15–16, the waters of chaos) and literal (Ps 69:4, 5, 9, 11–13, exhaustion, alienation from family and community, false accusation). In the second part the psalmist prays with special emphasis that the enemies be punished for all to see (Ps 69:23–29). Despite the pain, the psalmist does not lose hope that all be set right, and promises public praise (Ps 69:30–36). (Psalms, PSALM 69 | USCCB, n.d.)
The Gospel of Matthew recalls the Death of John the Baptist.
* [14:1–12] The murder of the Baptist by Herod Antipas prefigures the death of Jesus (see Mt 17:12). The Marcan source (Mk 6:14–29) is much reduced and in some points changed. In Mark Herod reveres John as a holy man and the desire to kill him is attributed to Herodias (Mk 6:19, 20), whereas here that desire is Herod’s from the beginning (Mt 14:5). (Matthew, CHAPTER 14 | USCCB, n.d.)
Robby Francis comments that while there is much in Herod’s life we cannot relate to, the lack of freedom and being controlled by external forces is something each of us experiences.
We fear judgment or loss of love, and we seek to appear positive or competent. This controls our actions and prevents us from being ourselves.
When we look at those in our history who have been prophetic, like Jeremiah in our first reading and John the Baptist in our Gospel reading, we see that they are free. They are not driven by external opinions or a need to be liked or admired. Rather, it is the Spirit of God that drives them. (Francis, n.d.)
Don Schwager quotes “Integrity is a hardship for the morally corrupt,” by Peter Chrysologus (400-450 AD).
"John aroused Herod by his moral admonitions, not by any formal accusation. He wanted to correct, not to suppress. Herod, however, preferred to suppress rather than be reconciled. To those who are held captive, the freedom of the one innocent of wrongdoing becomes hateful. Virtue is undesirable to those who are immoral; holiness is abhorrent to those who are impious; chastity is an enemy to those who are impure; integrity is a hardship for those who are corrupt; frugality runs counter to those who are self-indulgent; mercy is intolerable to those who are cruel, as is loving-kindness to those who are pitiless and justice to those who are unjust. The Evangelist indicates this when he says, "John said to him, 'It is not lawful for you to have the wife of your brother Philip.'" This is where John runs into trouble. He who admonishes those who are evil gives offense. He who repudiates wrongdoers runs into trouble. John was saying what was proper of the law, what was proper of justice, what was proper of salvation and what was proper certainly not of hatred but of love. And look at the reward he received from the ungodly for his loving concern!" (excerpt from SERMONS 127.6-7)
[Peter Chrysologus, 400-450 AD, was a renowned preacher and bishop of Ravena in the 5th century] (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on Matthew 14:1-12 asks how could Herod have gone so far as to have John killed?
If you want to avoid following in Herod’s footsteps, then examine your heart and see if there are any hidden desires to be right or well thought of. If so, repent and ask the Lord to give you an undivided heart that wants only to love and serve him and his people. And even if you slip up at times and say something you later regret, you can trust that with God’s grace, you can make things right again.
“Lord, give me the humility to turn to you when I say things I later regret.” (Meditation on Matthew 14:1-12, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler reflects on the texts today.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces Buddhist Quaker Valerie Brown who encourages an intentional and loving approach to community.
It’s easy to have idyllic beliefs about community—that it is a place where everyone is friendly, agreeable, and polite; a place where there is no conflict, connection is easy, there are no difficult people. What I’ve discovered, however, is that more often than not, community is about conflict and about how we together navigate it. Conflict often reveals something important, allowing me to yield to something bigger and more important than protecting my ideas around right or wrong. Community calls me toward recognizing the shadow side of myself: the ways in which I am hard, distant, rigid, and unforgiving. Community shows me when I am placing my needs before others, showing up distracted or late, and taking others for granted. The opportunity I am then given is to ask essential questions: Can I be transparent and undefended without collapsing when this feedback comes my way? Can I notice, name, and investigate with open curiosity what I am feeling? Can I offer myself and others kind attention without judgment or blame? The gift of community is the mirror that reflects back to me, that offers me a chance to live into a better part of myself. (Rohr, n.d.)
We may find ourselves in situations where rash and ill considered decisions bring consequences that we deeply regret. We have the Wisdom of the Spirit to guide our path to reconciliation and deliverance from our despair.
References
Francis, R. (n.d.). Daily Reflection Of Creighton University's Online Ministries. OnlineMinistries. Retrieved August 3, 2024, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/080324.html
Jeremiah, CHAPTER 26 | USCCB. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved August 3, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/jeremiah/26?11
Matthew, CHAPTER 14 | USCCB. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved August 3, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/14?1
Meditation on Matthew 14:1-12. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved August 3, 2024, from https://wau.org/meditations/2024/08/03/1040622/
Psalms, PSALM 69 | USCCB. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved August 3, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/69?15
Rohr, R. (n.d.). Daily Meditations — Center for Action and Contemplation. The Reign of God: Weekly Summary. Retrieved August 3, 2024, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/the-reign-of-god-weekly-summary/
Schwager, D. (n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved August 3, 2024, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2024&date=aug3
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