YEAR II: HOMILY FOR FRIDAY OF THE 4TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME (1)

YEAR II: HOMILY FOR FRIDAY OF THE 4TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

HOMILY THEME: THE PURPOSE OF JOHN THE BAPTIST

BY: Fr. Benny Tuazon

 

HOMILY: (Mk. 6:14-29) Friday of the Fourth Week in Ordinary Time

In today’s Gospel we have the story of the beheading of John the Baptist. King Herod made a promise to grant the wish of a girl, daughter of her immoral partner Herodias, afyer a splendid dance performance. Herodias, who had a grudge against John, took the opportunity to take revenge and maybe to silence John who had exposed her illicit relationship with the king. She told her daughter to ask for the head of the Baptist. Being king, Herod had no choice but to grant the girl’s wish. He commanded to behead John and was given to the girl.

The head of John as a gift for a dance performance? The cousin of Jesus and His precursor was beheaded for a dance? A life for a dance? Is it not too cheap a price for a life ehich had played a big part in God’s plan of salvation? Maybe some will see this as a waste. Maybe they will think God committed a blunder. But remember, John had fulfilled his mission. He was ready to go. But what a way to go?

Did he deserve it or not? That maybe is a question. There were other ways to die. Unfortunately, circumstances led to this kind of death. But more than the kind of death is reason for the death. John died because he was brave enough to expose what the king was doing. If only for that, it was worth it no matter how they did it or the reason he was beheaded.

We cannot choose the way we would die. But we can choose how to live our lives. We can also choose the reason for living. God, who created us had a purpose for us. Living that purpose is the way and reason for living. Hopefully, we agree to that purpose and live our lives accordingly. John did!

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