DGeMs- Daily Gospel eMessage
Dear Friend in the Lord,
“Human Emotions” – Faith: In today’s Gospel, King Herod, being seduced by Herodias’ daughter’s dance, offered her even half the wealth of his kingdom, as a reward. Ponder on, “Such an offer is emotionally complex and foolish. And, the rejection of such an offer; as a revenge on John, by beheading him; is a greater evil. Do our emotions “dominate and control” us?
Fr Philip Heng, S.J.
Mark 6:22-28a
When the daughter of Herodias came in and danced, she delighted Herod and his guests; so the king said to the girl, ‘Ask me anything you like and I will give it you.’ And he swore her an oath, ‘I will give you anything you ask, even half my kingdom.’
She went out and said to her mother, ‘What shall I ask for?’ She replied, ‘The head of John the Baptist.’ The girl at once rushed back to the king and made her request, ‘I want you to give me John the Baptist’s head, immediately, on a dish.’
The king was deeply distressed but, thinking of the oaths he had sworn and of his guests, he was reluctant to break his word to her. At once the king sent one of the bodyguards with orders to bring John’s head. The man went off and beheaded him in the prison.