Passion and Prophecy

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today, the Memorial of the Passion of Saint John the Baptist, remind us to rely on Providence when our faith, plans, and passion are in conflict with modern modes of living.

Priest, Prophet, Leader

The CCCB lists this Reading from the Prophet Jeremiah that declares “They will fight against you, but not prevail over you”

The Book of Jeremiah combines history, biography, and prophecy. It portrays a nation in crisis and introduces the reader to an extraordinary person whom the Lord called to prophesy under the trying circumstances of the final days of the kingdom of Judah. Jeremiah was born, perhaps about 650 B.C., of a priestly family from the village of Anathoth, two and a half miles northeast of Jerusalem. He was called to his task in the thirteenth year of King Josiah (Jer 1:2). Josiah’s reform, begun with enthusiasm and hope, ended with his death on the battlefield of Megiddo (609 B.C.) as he attempted to stop the northward march of the Egyptian Pharaoh Neco, who was going to provide assistance to the Assyrians who were in retreat before the Babylonians. (Jeremiah, THE BOOK OF JEREMIAH | USCCB, n.d.)

The USCCB lists a passage from 1 Thessalonians that presents Paul’s Instruction about Holiness in Sexual Contact.

* [4:2] Instructions: these include specific guidelines on the basis of the Lord’s authority, not necessarily sayings Jesus actually uttered. More profoundly, as 1 Thes 4:8 implies, the instructions are practical principles that Paul worked out in accordance with his understanding of the role of the Spirit.

* [4:3–8] Many think that this passage deals with a variety of moral regulations (fornication, adultery, sharp business practices). It can be more specifically interpreted as bringing general norms to bear on a specific problem, namely, marriage within degrees of consanguinity (as between uncle and niece) forbidden in Jewish law but allowed according to a Greek heiress law, which would insure retention of an inheritance within the family and perhaps thereby occasion divorce. In that case, “immorality” (1 Thes 4:3) should be rendered as “unlawful marriage” and “this matter” (1 Thes 4:6) as “a lawsuit.” The phrase in 1 Thes 4:4, “acquire a wife for himself,” has often been interpreted to mean “control one’s body.” (1 Thessalonians, CHAPTER 4 | USCCB, n.d.)

Psalm 97 is a hymn with God appearing in a storm.

* [Psalm 97] The hymn begins with God appearing in a storm, a traditional picture of some ancient Near Eastern gods (Ps 97:1–6); cf. Ps 18:8–16; Mi 1:3–4; Heb 3:3–15. Israel rejoices in the overthrowing of idol worshipers and their gods (Ps 97:7–9) and the rewarding of the faithful righteous (Ps 97:10–12). (Psalms, PSALM 97 | USCCB, n.d.)

The Gospel of Mark describes 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).

* [6:19] Herodias: see note on Mt 14:3. (Mark, CHAPTER 6 | USCCB, n.d.)

Joan Blandin Howard encourages us to accept Ignatius’ invitation to imaginative, contemplative prayer.  “Using all of your senses, enter into this banquet scene and notice where you land and what you experience of the others and of the Holy Spirit, the Giver of all Truth and the cleanser of all fear.”

Where is the good news in this reading? I experience Herod as a sympathetic character.  In his heart he knows John to be a good and holy man.  Even though perplexed, Herod is drawn to John’s words .  Still, he is afraid of John. Out of fear Herod has John beheaded.  Was Herod afraid of what John could do to him if he was released?  Or was Herod more afraid of what his wife might do if he did not behead John?  Or was he most afraid of what his court, followers and citizens might do to him?  The battle of truth and fear.  How is it that we often instinctively recognize truth and yet cannot cleanse ourselves of fear.  The forever battle between truth and fear rages. (Blandin Howard, 2025)

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) (Schwager, n.d.)

The Word Among Us Meditation on Mark 6:17-29 comments that it wasn’t just John’s death that pointed to Jesus; his entire life served as a witness to him. His entire ministry was focused on making Jesus “known to Israel” (John 1:31). Everything he did—preaching repentance, baptizing people, and challenging those who abused their power—pointed to Jesus. Even today, he continues to “prepare the way of the Lord” (Luke 3:4).

How is John calling you to prepare the way for Jesus?

Wherever you are right now, consider how you can take one more step that will open your heart to Jesus more deeply. If you have felt lukewarm in prayer, remember that you have been baptized “with the Holy Spirit and fire” (Luke 3:16). If you are struggling with temptation or the call to deny yourself, ask the Lord to give you resolve. If you are too focused on your own desires, remember John’s profession: “He must increase; I must decrease” (John 3:30). No matter how the Baptist’s witness touches you today, ask the Holy Spirit to help you follow the example of this hero and herald.

“St. John, forerunner of the Lord, pray that I may receive a double portion of your courage and conviction today!” (Meditation on Mark 6:17-29, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler comments the content of 1 Thessalonians turns to practical matters including being faithful in marriage. Paul shares that God would become the “goel” in times of abandonment.  Sexual morality was not strong in pagan religion; the gods were not good examples. We are called to integrity and fidelity. John the Baptist was martyred after declaring it was forbidden to marry a brother’s wife. Herod was both fascinated and afraid. Salome dances and initiates a promise and Herod gives in to her request. Herod is seen as a weak figure giving in to the request even as it meant the death of a “Man of God”. Friar Jude notes the location of numerous relics of John the Baptist in Europe where the benefit may be to bring us to prayer.

Fr. Richard Rohr introduces Camaldolese monk and songwriter Cyprian Consiglio who shares a memory of visiting Israel and Palestine. Consiglio finds himself changed by Rabbi Eli’s solidarity with the Palestinian people:  

My friends told me that when I came back from that trip to the Holy Land my preaching changed. It was more fiery, more “prophetic,” I suppose. I was fired up by the frustration and energized by the agitation that I felt witnessing up close a situation that was patently unsustainable and obviously unjust, but with no visible solution and no one with enough real moral authority to “fix” everything. And I think I felt like never before the challenge of being a follower of Jesus, and I glimpsed what a privileged position we Christians have there in the Holy Land as well as in the world at large, to stand in the breach between our Jewish and Muslim brothers and sisters and dare to preach love of our enemies, dare to believe that peace if possible, dare to take Jesus at his word. (Rohr, n.d.)

We seek the consolation of the Spirit when our actions to be disciples of Christ alienate us from the powers and principalities of the world.

References

Blandin Howard, J. (2025, August 29). Daily Reflection August 29, 2025 | Creighton Online Ministries. Creighton Online Ministries. Retrieved August 29, 2025, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/daily-reflections/daily-reflection-august-29-2025 

Jeremiah, THE BOOK OF JEREMIAH | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved August 29, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/jeremiah/0 

Mark, CHAPTER 6 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved August 29, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/mark/6?17 

Meditation on Mark 6:17-29. (n.d.). Word Among Us. Retrieved August 29, 2025, from https://wau.org/meditations/2025/08/29/1365059/ 

1 Thessalonians, CHAPTER 4 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved August 29, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/1thessalonians/4?1 

Psalms, PSALM 97 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved August 29, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/97?1 

Rohr, R. (n.d.). Daily Meditations — Center for Action and Contemplation. CAC.org. Retrieved August 29, 2025, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/can-christians-be-makers-of-peace/ 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). Herod Feared John - a Righteous and Holy Man. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved August 29, 2025, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2025&date=aug29a 

Love and Wisdom

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge and comfort us with the gift of Love that opens our understanding to great life and Wisdom.

Greatest of These

The reading from the First Letter of Paul to the Corinthians proclaims the Gift of Love.

* [13:1–13] This chapter involves a shift of perspective and a new point. All or part of the material may once have been an independent piece in the style of Hellenistic eulogies of virtues, but it is now integrated, by editing, into the context of 1 Cor 12–14 (cf. the reference to tongues and prophecy) and into the letter as a whole (cf. the references to knowledge and to behavior). The function of 1 Cor 13 within the discussion of spiritual gifts is to relativize all the charisms by contrasting them with the more basic, pervasive, and enduring value that gives them their purpose and their effectiveness. The rhetoric of this chapter is striking.

* [13:1–3] An inventory of gifts, arranged in careful gradation: neither tongues (on the lowest rung), nor prophecy, knowledge, or faith, nor even self-sacrifice has value unless informed by love.

* [13:4–7] This paragraph is developed by personification and enumeration, defining love by what it does or does not do. The Greek contains fifteen verbs; it is natural to translate many of them by adjectives in English.

* [13:8–13] The final paragraph announces its topic, Love never fails (1 Cor 13:8), then develops the permanence of love in contrast to the charisms (1 Cor 13:9–12), and finally asserts love’s superiority even over the other “theological virtues” (1 Cor 13:13).

* [13:13] In speaking of love, Paul is led by spontaneous association to mention faith and hope as well. They are already a well-known triad (cf. 1 Thes 1:3), three interrelated (cf. 1 Cor 13:7) features of Christian life, more fundamental than any particular charism. The greatest…is love: love is operative even within the other members of the triad (7), so that it has a certain primacy among them. Or, if the perspective is temporal, love will remain (cf. “never fails,” 1 Cor 13:8) even when faith has yielded to sight and hope to possession. (1 Corinthians, CHAPTER 13 | USCCB, n.d.)

Psalm 33 praises the Greatness and Goodness of God.

* [Psalm 33] A hymn in which the just are invited (Ps 33:1–3) to praise God, who by a mere word (Ps 33:4–5) created the three-tiered universe of the heavens, the cosmic waters, and the earth (Ps 33:6–9). Human words, in contrast, effect nothing (Ps 33:10–11). The greatness of human beings consists in God’s choosing them as a special people and their faithful response (Ps 33:12–22). (Psalms, PSALM 33 | USCCB, n.d.)

In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus shares how Wisdom is Vindicated.

* [7:31–35] See note on Mt 11:16–19. (Luke, CHAPTER 7 | USCCB, n.d.)

Carol Zuegner comments that Love never fails. We might fail each other. We might fail ourselves. But God’s love never fails even when we feel like a clashing cymbal. We need to hear that message over and over again.

The way to God is love. In the Gospel, Jesus uses the examples of different paths. It can be hard for people to embrace the idea that love is kind and extends to the tax collector and sinners. Love can “endure all things” even when we don’t see the way out of our own difficulties. 

I need to remember in times of celebration of love and times when it seems that love is absent, that truly love is patient and kind. That means I too must try to be patient and kind, to make sure that my own resounding gong and clashing cymbal proclaim hope, faith and most of all love in my thoughts and my actions. (Zuegner, n.d.)

Don Schwager quotes “The song and dances of the prophets,” by Ambrose of Milan, 339-397 A.D.

"'Therefore, wisdom is justified by all her children.' He fittingly says 'by all,' because justice is preserved around all. In order that an acceptance of the faithful may happen, a rejection of the unbelieving must occur. Very many Greeks say this, "Wisdom is justified by all her works," because the duty of justice is to preserve the measure around the merit of each. It aptly says, "We have piped to you, and you have not danced." Moses sang a song when he stopped the flow in the Red Sea for the crossing of the Jews (Exodus 15:1-18), and the same waves encircled the horses of the Egyptians and, falling back, drowned their riders. Isaiah sang a song of his beloved's vineyard (Isaiah 5:1-7), signifying that the people who before had been fruitful with abundant virtues would be desolate through shameful acts. The Hebrews sang a song when the soles of their feet grew moist at the touch of the bedewing flame, and while all burned within and without, the harmless fire caressed them alone and did not scorch (Daniel 3:19-25). Habakkuk also learned to assuage universal grief with a song and prophesied that the sweet passion of the Lord would happen for the faithful (Habakkuk 3:13). The prophets sang songs with spiritual measures, resounding with prophecies of universal salvation. The prophets wept, softening the hard hearts of the Jews with sorrowful lamentations" (Isaiah 46:12). (excerpt from EXPOSITION OF THE GOSPEL OF LUKE 6.6-7) (Schwager, n.d.)

The Word Among Us Meditation on 1 Corinthians 12:31–13:13 notes how Paul describes love in 1 Corinthians 13:4-6.and urges us to imagine what love might look like for us. 

Love never fails (13:8). The love that never fails comes directly from God. It’s the love he has poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit (Romans 5:5). This is an eternal love that leads us right into the courts of heaven. It’s a love that fills us to overflowing and empowers us to love one another the way he loves us.

May we all learn to live in that love!

“Lord, lead me in the most excellent way—the way of your love!” (Meditation on 1 Corinthians 12:31–13:13, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler comments on the great poem on love that reviews spiritual gifts and proclaims the most excellent way that avoids self aggrandizement. We are called to use our gifts for the building up of the Kingdom. Friar Jude reminds us to be aware that God may act in our lives in ways that we do not expect. 

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces Palestinian Quaker Jean Zaru who reflects upon her lifelong commitment to peacemaking. Zaru considers the inward and outward dimensions of her commitment to peace.

As Palestinian women, we have a special burden and service. We are constantly being told to be peaceful. But the inner peace of which I speak is not simply being nice, or being passive, or permitting oneself to be trampled upon without protest. It is not passive nonviolence, but the nonviolence of courageous action.…  

What is that inner force that drives us, that provides regeneration and perseverance to speak the truth that desperately needs to be spoken in this moment of history?… If I deserve credit for courage, it is not for anything I do here, but for continuing in my daily struggle under occupation on so many fronts, for remaining samideh (steadfast) and, all the while, remaining open to love, to the beauty of the earth, and contributing to its healing when it is violated. (Rohr, n.d.)

We ponder the message we receive today from the great tribute to love in 1 Corinthians 13 and open ourselves to the promptings of the Spirit to live in that Love.

References

Luke, CHAPTER 7 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved September 18, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/7?31 

Meditation on 1 Corinthians 12:31–13:13. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved September 18, 2024, from https://wau.org/meditations/2024/09/18/1075291/ 

1 Corinthians, CHAPTER 13 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved September 18, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/1corinthians/13 

Psalms, PSALM 33 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved September 18, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/33?2 

Rohr, R. (n.d.). Remaining Steadfast in Nonviolence. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved September 18, 2024, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/remaining-steadfast-in-nonviolence/ 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). How Shall I Compare This Generation? Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved September 18, 2024, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2024&date=sep18 

Zuegner, C. (n.d.). Daily Reflection Of Creighton University's Online Ministries. OnlineMinistries. Retrieved September 18, 2024, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/091824.html