“The head of John the Baptist.”
Mark 6:14-29
King Herod heard about Jesus, for his fame had become widespread,
and people were saying,“John the Baptist has been raised from the dead;That is why mighty powers are at work in him.”Others were saying, “He is Elijah”;still others, “He is a prophet like any of the prophets.”
But when Herod learned of it, he said,“It is John whom I beheaded. He has been raised up.”Herod was the one who had John arrested and bound in prison on account of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip, whom he had married. John had said to Herod,
“It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.”
Herodias harbored a grudge against him and wanted to kill him but was unable to do so.Herod feared John, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man,and kept him in custody.When he heard him speak he was very much perplexed,yet he liked to listen to him.Herodias had an opportunity one day when Herod, on his birthday, gave a banquet for his courtiers, his military officers,and the leading men of Galilee.
His own daughter came in and performed a dance that delighted Herod and his guests.
The king said to the girl,“Ask of me whatever you wish and I will grant it to you.” He even swore many things to her,“I will grant you whatever you ask of me,even to half of my kingdom.”She went out and said to her mother,“What shall I ask for?” Her mother replied, “The head of John the Baptist.”The girl hurried back to the king’s presence and made her request,“I want you to give me at once on a platter the head of John the Baptist.” The king was deeply distressed, but because of his oaths and the guests he did not wish to break his word to her. So he promptly dispatched an executioner with orders to bring back his head. He went off and beheaded him in the prison.He brought in the head on a platter and gave it to the girl. The girl in turn gave it to her mother.When his disciples heard about it, they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.
Ang ulo ni Juan na tagapagbawtismo.
Marcos 6:14-29
14Narinig ni Herodes ang patungkol sa kaniya sapagkat bantog na ang pangalan ni Jesus. Sinabi ni Herodes: Si Juan na tagapagbawtismo ay bumangon mula sa mga patay kaya nakakagawa siya ng ganitong mga himala.
15Ang iba ay nagsasabi: Siya ay si Elias.
May nagsasabi naman: Siya ay isang propeta o gaya ng isa sa mga propeta.
16Subalit nang marinig ito ni Herodes, sinabi niya: Ito nga si Juan na siyang pinapugutan ko na ng ulo. Bumangon siya mula sa mga patay.
17Sinabi ito ni Herodes dahil siya ang nagsugo noon ng mga tao upang dakpin at itanikala sa bilangguan si Juan. Ito ay sapagkat kinuha niya si Herodias para maging kaniyang asawa. Si Herodias ay asawa ni Felipe na nakakabatang kapatid ni Herodes. 18Dahil sinabi ni Juan kay Herodes: Hindi matuwid na kunin mo ang asawa ng iyong kapatid. 19Kaya si Herodias ay nagkimkim ng galit kay Juan at hinangad niyang ipapatay ito ngunit hindi niya ito magawa. 20Wala siyang pagkakataong ipapatay si Juan sapagkat natatakot si Herodes kay Juan. Talastas niyang si Juan ay matuwid at banal na tao, kaya ipinagsanggalang niya siya. Sa pakikinig ni Herodes kay Juan, maraming bagay siyang ginawa. Gayunman, natutuwa siyang makinig sa kaniya.
21At dumating ang pagkakataon ni Herodias. Kaarawan noon ni Herodes kaya ipinaghanda niya ng isang piging ang kaniyang mga matataas na opisyal, pinuno ng hukbo at mga pangunahing mamamayan ng Galilea. 22Ang anak na babae ni Herodias ay pumasok at sumayaw. Nasiyahan si Herodes at ang mga kasama niya sa kainan.
Dahil dito sinabi ng hari sa dalagita: Hingin mo ang anumang ibigin mo at ibibigay ko sa iyo. 23Nanumpa siya sa dalagita: Ibibigay ko ang anumang iyong hingin kahit na kalahati ng aking paghahari.
24Lumabas ang dalagita at tinanong ang kaniyang ina. Ano ang hihingin ko?
Sinabi ng ina: Ang ulo ni Juan na tagapagbawtismo.
25Nagmamadaling pumasok ang dalagita sa kinaroroonan ng hari at humingi na nagsasabi: Ibig kong ibigay mo kaagad sa akin ang ulo ni Juan na tagapagbawtismo na nakalagay sa isang bandehado.
26Ang hari ay lubhang nagdalamhati. Ngunit dahil sa mga ginawa niyang panunumpa at sa mga panauhin hindi niya matanggihan ang dalagita. 27Kaagad na isinugo ng hari ang kaniyang sundalo na dalhin sa kaniya ang ulo ni Juan. Umalis ang sundalo at pinugutan ng ulo si Juan sa bilangguan. 28Dinala ang kaniyang ulo na nasa bandehado at ibinigay ito sa dalagita. Ibinigay naman ito ng dalagita sa kaniyang ina. 29Pumunta roon ang mga alagad ni Juan nang marinig nila ito. Kinuha nila ang bangkay at inilibing.
Do you court favor with the rich and the famous? Scripture warns us of such danger (see Proverbs 23:1-2). King Herod had respected and feared John the Baptist as a great prophet and servant of God. John, however did not fear to chastise Herod for his adulterous relationship. Herod, out of impulse and a desire to please his family and friends, had John beheaded. Now his conscience is pricked when he hears that some think that the Baptist has risen. When Herod heard the fame of Jesus he supposed that John the Baptist, whom he had beheaded, had returned from the dead. Unfortunately for Herod, he could not rid himself of sin by ridding himself of the man who confronted him with his sin.
Herod was a weak man. He could take a strong stand on the wrong things when he knew the right. Such a stand, however, was a sign of weakness and cowardice. God’s grace enables us to overcome fear and weakness in the face of temptation. Do you allow his grace to fortify you with faith and courage when you face adversity?
“Heavenly Father, form in me the likeness of your Son and deepen his life within me that I may be like him in word and deed. Help me to live the gospel faithfully and give me strength and courage to not shrink back in the face of adversity and temptation.”
P.S. Please pray for the success of our Kasalang Parokya this Feb 10, 2013. This mass wedding is a Family and Life Ministry project of the San Antonio De Padua parish of Batasan Hills, Q.C..
God bless you always!