Daily Retreat 08/29/06
2006 Aug 29 Tue: Martyrdom of John the Baptist M
2 Thes 2: 1-3a. 14-17/ Ps 95(96): 10. 11-12. 13/ Mk 6: 17-29
From today’s readings: “Stand firm and hold fast to the traditions that you were taught, either by an oral statement or by a letter of ours.... The Lord comes to judge the earth.... Herod was the one who had John the Baptist arrested and bound in prison on account of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip....”
The Allure of Hard Truth
Mark 6:20 is a particularly intriguing verse, commenting on Herod Antipas’ ambivalence toward John the Baptist: “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.” On the one hand, Herod had been the one to imprison John in the first place because he had spoken out against his immoral union with Herodias. But on the other hand, in spite of himself, Herod undeniably felt the attraction of John’s preaching of the truth.
Herod, of course, was a thoroughly wicked man and hated tyrant, and so it’s unpleasant to think that perhaps you and I share some of his character traits. Yet I think Herod’s ambivalence toward John is mirrored in many people’s ambivalence toward any agent of conscience that dares to clearly indict one of sin. For, although the first reaction generally is to shut up or shut out the troublesome charges, yet some interior force often stalks one with haunting reminders that the truth simply should not be ignored.
Although he was once drawn by that intrinsic allure of truth, Herod eventually compounded his sins when he was driven to behead the Baptist. But you and I still can yet avail ourselves of Christ’s grace, which would embolden us to not merely listen occasionally to the hard truth, but rather, to have the courage to repent of the reality of our sins and make the changes necessary in our own lives in order to get ahead virtuously!
NB: See the August 5 virtual retreat reflection for a clarification of the three Herods mentioned in scripture.
2 Thes 2: 1-3a. 14-17/ Ps 95(96): 10. 11-12. 13/ Mk 6: 17-29
From today’s readings: “Stand firm and hold fast to the traditions that you were taught, either by an oral statement or by a letter of ours.... The Lord comes to judge the earth.... Herod was the one who had John the Baptist arrested and bound in prison on account of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip....”
The Allure of Hard Truth
Mark 6:20 is a particularly intriguing verse, commenting on Herod Antipas’ ambivalence toward John the Baptist: “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.” On the one hand, Herod had been the one to imprison John in the first place because he had spoken out against his immoral union with Herodias. But on the other hand, in spite of himself, Herod undeniably felt the attraction of John’s preaching of the truth.
Herod, of course, was a thoroughly wicked man and hated tyrant, and so it’s unpleasant to think that perhaps you and I share some of his character traits. Yet I think Herod’s ambivalence toward John is mirrored in many people’s ambivalence toward any agent of conscience that dares to clearly indict one of sin. For, although the first reaction generally is to shut up or shut out the troublesome charges, yet some interior force often stalks one with haunting reminders that the truth simply should not be ignored.
Although he was once drawn by that intrinsic allure of truth, Herod eventually compounded his sins when he was driven to behead the Baptist. But you and I still can yet avail ourselves of Christ’s grace, which would embolden us to not merely listen occasionally to the hard truth, but rather, to have the courage to repent of the reality of our sins and make the changes necessary in our own lives in order to get ahead virtuously!
NB: See the August 5 virtual retreat reflection for a clarification of the three Herods mentioned in scripture.
posted by FrPitstick | 8/28/2006
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