St. John the Baptist and Herod
During the commemoration of the Beheading of St. John the Baptist, let us reflect on the tragedy of Herod. On the one hand, Herod respected St. John and recognized him as a righteous and holy man; on the other hand, he lacked the courage to change his own way of life.
Let us ask ourselves whether we, like Herod, live with a divided heart — on the one hand, admiring Jesus, but on the other, not making true changes in our lives. Let us remember that sin often begins with small compromises with our conscience.
Let us listen to God’s voice in our hearts. Every act of obedience to God’s will makes us stronger in our faith, while each compromise takes us a step away from God. Let us ask St. John the Baptist for his intercession and for the courage not only to hear the Gospel, but to live it in our daily lives.
The Feast of Herod, 13th-century mosaic, Baptistery of St. John, Florence
