TODAY'S WORD

By


Fr. Aloysius Santiago sdb
Rector and Parish Priest
Don Bosco Shrine
Lingarajapuram, Bangalore

Hebrews: 13:5 "Keep your lives free from the love of money, and be content with what you have; for He has said, “I will never leave you or forsake you.”


TODAY'S REFLECTION

In the days running up to the feast of Christmas, we heard Luke’s account of the birth of John the Baptist. 


In this morning’s gospel reading, we hear Mark’s account of the death of John the Baptist. 


As we read that story, John is off stage, as it were, languishing in Herod Antipas’ prison. 


There are three characters who are centre stage, Herod Antipas, his wife Herodias and her daughter from her marriage to Herod’s brother, Philip. 


Of those three characters Herod Antipas comes across as the most complex. 


Whereas Herodias clearly hated John the Baptist, Herod’s attitude to John was more ambivalent.


It is said that Herod knew John to be a good and holy man and gave him his protection, and that he liked to listen to John even though he was greatly perplexed by what he said. 


There was something about John that spoke to Herod; John appealed to Herod’s better nature. Yet, Herod ordered John’s execution. 


He had made a very public but very rash promise to Herodias’ daughter, and to protect his own honour before others he felt obliged to keep his promise, even though it meant beheading the man whom he knew to be good and holy. 


Herod, in the end, acted against his better nature, to which John the Baptist had appealed so strongly. 


Perhaps there is something of Herod in all of us. We hear a call that appeals to what is best in us, but we don’t always follow through on it for reasons of self-interest. 


Herod was not prepared to lose his honour to save John. 


Responding to the Lord’s call will often entail some loss for us. 


Being true to what is deepest and best in ourselves will sometimes mean having to die to ourselves in some way. 


Yet, we have the promise of Jesus that, if we lose our life for his sake, we will ultimately find it.


Martyrs get killed not just for their convictions….but for EXPRESSING their convictions:

‘Play Safe’ is an ad-tag in which many Christians find refuge.


“Keep your mouth shut”…


“Don’t offend people around us”…


“It is better to be silent than sorry”…


These are some of the common phrases which we Christians adopt, in moments of injustice, corruption, inequality & unfairness!


But true Martyrs EXPRESSED and ARTICULATED and DISPLAYED and UTTERED their faith!….


Yes, they WITNESSED their FAITH as a true MARTYR!


A true Martyr is a bold Witness!


St John the Baptist was not silent…he expressed and articulated the mistakes…and he was martyred!


Martyrs don’t get swayed by popular opinions and cheap popularity


A true martyr is not one who checks the pulse of public opinion & makes a statement to please and satisfy people.


He has the guts…

… to go against an oppressive and discrimination culture

… to voice out against an unjust and demeaning authority

… to stand firm in the midst of rippled spiritualities and patterns!

St John the Baptist was unfazed and unmoved before the Royal immoral powers….and he was martyred!


Martyrs are willing and prepared to lay down their lives.

Martyrs are not sadists or escapists… who want to die for some pleasure / even to run away from the grinds of life!


Rather, they are people who are wholly prepared & enthusiastically willing to die, for the sake of their convictions!


They are passionate and intensely in love with their faith and their convictions!


They are unaffected and impassive to the dangers and risks that are involved!


Shall we too dare?


RESOLUTION


Let's resolve like John the Baptist to know that he was walking precariously on the rope of risks…

… and he was always ready for it!

Today, You and I….are invited let's resolve to be a voice.. in a voiceless… in a voice-oppressed… in a voice-drowned… in a voice-killed…world!


St John the Baptist dared to be that VOICE – “I am the voice…!” (Jn 1:23)


SAINT OF THE DAY

ST. AGATHA, VIRGIN SND MARTYR


Pious tradition tells us St. Agatha was courted for marriage by an influential local official. She chose to consecrate her chastity to Jesus. The local official was furious and arranged her torture and martyrdom.


Have a blessed Friday*. *Let's through the intercession of st. Joseph pray for the elderly, sick and the suffering especially those that are affected by the Corona Virus.