4th Week in Ordinary Time (Year A) : Friday 3rd February 2023

The author of Hebrews mentions that marriage is to be honoured by all, and marriages are to be kept undefiled. And he also encourages the readers to keep in mind those in prison.

John the Baptist is imprisoned because of his stern warning to Herod for coveting his brother’s wife, Herodias, while her husband was still alive. It is unfortunate that when one party turns his or her marriage into lovelessness and leaves that marriage for sin.

Every marriage is sacred, and the couple must recall their first love when they married in the first place. They must rediscover and revisit their love. As mentioned earlier, marriage is to be honoured by all. But Herod did not honour Herodias’ first marriage; thus, they sinned.

Besides, Herod does not honour John the Baptist for speaking the truth about his sinful marriage. And worse, Herodias is so vindictive that she shuts John’s mouth up and beheads him.

Are we resentful at times with some people because they point out that we are embracing sin and not becoming the loving person we ought to be? Are we not resentful when we put people down or “kill” their character with our unkind words? Have we also put ourselves into an emotional prison with this kind of resentment?

Lord, free me from any kind of prison and help me grow into a mature and fully alive person.