FR. GERALD MUSA HOMILY FOR SATURDAY OF THE 17TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME CYCLE II
THEME: SPIRIT OF COURAGE
BY: Fr. Gerald M. Musa
HOMILY FOR SATURDAY JULY 30 2022
According to St. Augustine, “Hope has two beautiful daughters; their names are anger and courage. Anger at the way things are, and courage to see that they do not remain as they are.” John the Baptist was full of righteous indignation and deeply concerned about the way people drifted away from doing the right thing. John the Baptist spoke the truth courageously and fearlessly to King Herod. He denounced the injustice of the king who seized and married his brother’s wife.
John knew his role and mission as a prophet was to challenge and afflict the powerful and comfortable who had lost their humanity, sensitivity, and ethical values. Herod loved to listen to John but his illegitimate wife Herodias hated John. She demanded the head of John the Baptist through her daughter. Herod could not resist her wicked and vindictive demand. John was killed for speaking the truth bravely.
An African proverb says, “A brave man dies once, a coward a thousand times.” Having killed John, Herod heard about Jesus and wondered if it was John the Baptist who came back to life. Evidently, he was haunted, tormented, and afraid of his past. Guilty conscience overshadowed him. “The evil that men do lives after them” says Marc Anthony in Shakespeare’s book, Julius Caesar. Can we stand and speak out with the same courage and conviction as John the Baptist?
MATTHEW 14:1-12 Saturday, 17th Week
