Homily For Saturday of the Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 3rd August, 2024

 

Readings: Jer. 26:11-16.24, Ps. 69, Matt. 14:1-12

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

 

WHY IS TRUTH SO EXPENSIVE?

 

One thing that the world hates to hear is the sound of the word "truth". Why! Because it makes the world tremble as most things in the world are built on falsehood and deceit, and people are becoming comfortable with falsehood as a way of life. This is obvious, especially with the ugly situation in our societies today, where humanity is placed in perpetual darkness and confusion as the voices that speak the truth are silenced by all means.

 

Today, people want to be "free" to do whatever they like; they don't want anybody to remind them of the hard truth about the realities of life. Hence, they can do anything just to silence the truth. Thus, the cost of speaking the truth has become so expensive that sometimes it costs the life of an individual or even a whole community or nation. It is even more demanding when the truth to be told has to do with the conversion of one in authority.

 

This is the case with John the Baptist in our Gospel passage today, whose head was the prize for the truth he told to Herod and Herodias. Herod had arrested John 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.’ Herod had wanted to kill him but was afraid of the people, who regarded John as a prophet.

 

But, on the occasion of 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. She conspired with the mother and demanded the head of John the Baptist. The king was distressed, but, thinking of the oaths he had sworn and of his guests, he ordered John to be beheaded, and the head be given to the girl, who took it to her mother.

 

This same terrible crime is what we have in our first reading today, where the people demanded that the prophet Jeremiah deserve to die since he had prophesied against the city. Jeremiah had told the people that the Lord would destroy their city and their temple if they refused to amend their sinful ways of life and listen to the voice of the Lord God, who was calling them to repentance. These ugly attitudes towards John the Baptist and Jeremiah point to what is done to Jesus in his Passion, demonstrating how good people, especially when they struggle for truth and justice, are often condemned to suffer at the hands of greed and powerful people.

 

 But should we stop speaking the truth because of fear of losing our lives? I don't think so because truth saves a life, brings freedom, it releases tension, brings peace, and it settles quarrels and disputes. Truth is freedom which must be offered to everyone, whoever, whenever and however it will best bring conversion to its enemies, just like John the Baptist did to Herod and Herodias even at the expense of his life.

 

Herod made a bad decision and, out of pride, finds it difficult to change his mind and admit that he was wrong. He did not plan to execute John that night. He was persuaded by Herodias to do so because he was a weak man. He is a slave to the opinion of others; he fears the people who revered John; he also fears the reaction of his guests if he should retract his oath.

 

Dear friends, like Herod, how often do we make decisions out of pride? When we make bad decisions, how quickly are we able to change our minds and admit that we are wrong? Are we like Herodias, who is waiting for an opportunity to silence the innocents who confront us with the truth?  If today we happen to be one of the guests of Herod, what would be our reaction? Will I have protested or stayed silent? Thus, what do we do when we see others suffering injustice? Do we have the courage to protest, even at the cost of losing our lives? Today we are called to speak the truth, for the world needs to hear the truth no matter the cost.

 

LET US PRAY:  Lord God, it is difficult to speak and stand for truth in our world today; give us the grace and courage to become an instrument of your word in truth and deeds just like St. John the Baptist. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Wishing you God’s favour and blessings.