(Audio)
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.
John the Baptist was a man who spoke the word of God in season and out of season. He spoke words that made Herodias want to kill him. He spoke words that perplexed Herod. Yet his words rang with truth. Herod could not help be drawn to listen. John, though imprisoned for speaking, refused to be silent. He was the forerunner preparing the way for the one who was coming, even to the end.
John spoke in this way, not out of self-righteousness, but for the sake of his hearers. There was hope even for Herod. John did not want to see Herod condemned. He did not want to see him give over control more and more to sin.
The king was deeply distressed,
but because of his oaths and the guests
he did not wish to break his word to her.
Herod made a fearful choice. He had heard John. He knew where true goodness could be found. He knew this was the opposite direction. But he caved in to the pressure of sin. Did John do him a disservice by revealing truth to him? No! Without that truth he would have been even less free to resist temptation than he proved to be.
We are called to have the hearts of witnesses, just as John the Baptist did. We are called to care even more about the salvation of others than our own lives.
For we now live, if you stand firm in the Lord.
Paul's whole being was committed to loving and teaching those under his charge. His prayer was for their good. He could will himself cut off for their sakes (see Romans 9:3).
Now may God himself, our Father, and our Lord Jesus
direct our way to you, and may the Lord make you increase
and abound in love for one another and for all,
just as we have for you,
so as to strengthen your hearts,
to be blameless in holiness before our God and Father
at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his holy ones. Amen.
With Paul and with John we need to learn to get beyond ourselves in such a way that truly makes us available to others. Paul, the credentialed Pharisee that counted all as loss, and John, the prophet come to prepare the way before Jesus, reduced to preaching from a cell, show us that this love is possible.
Fill us at daybreak with your kindness,
that we may shout for joy and gladness all our days.
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