DGEMs

Behaviour – Faith: In today’s Gospel, John the Baptist was beheaded because King Herod, was too rash in offering anything Salome wanted, when she seduced him through a dance. He was too weak to obey his conscience, for not killing John.  Ponder on, “Do we at times behave like King Herod?”  Pray for God’s Light and Wisdom when we are tempted.

It was Herod who had arrested John, chained him up and put him in prison because of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife. For John had told him, ‘It is against the Law for you to have her.’ He had wanted to kill him but was afraid of the people, who regarded John as a prophet. 

Then, during the celebrations for Herod's birthday, the daughter of Herodias danced before the company and so delighted Herod that he promised on oath to give her anything she asked. Prompted by her mother she said, ‘Give me John the Baptist's head, here, on a dish.’

  The king was distressed but, thinking of the oaths he had sworn and of his guests, he ordered it to be given her, and sent and had John beheaded in the prison.