Readings: 1Cor. 1:26-31; Ps. 32; Mark 6:17-29
Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia
UNDERSTANDING THE SACRIFICIAL PRIZE OF STANDING FOR TRUTH AND JUSTICE
In our society today, people hate to hear the sound of the word truth. I wonder why people often tremble when they hear the word ‘truth’? This is obvious in our world today, especially with the ugly situation in our societies, where humanity is placed in the perpetual darkness of corruption, greed and confusion, as the voices that speak the truth are silenced by all means.
Today people don’t want to be transparent and honest in their dealings with others and even with themselves. They don't want anybody to remind them of the hard truth about the realities of life and they can do anything 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. It is even more demanding when the truth to be told has to do with someone in authority.
This is the case with John the Baptist, whose martyrdom we celebrate. For in our Gospel passage today, we heard how his head was the prize for the truth he told to Herod and Herodias concerning his brother Philip’s wife. John had told him that it was against the Law for him to have his brother’s wife. Herod had wanted to kill John but was afraid of the people, who regarded him 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 with an 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.
Here, Herod made a bad decision, and out of pride, he found 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 was a slave to other people’s opinions, for he feared the people who revered John; he also feared the reaction of his guests if he should retract his oath.
These ugly attitudes towards John the Baptist prefigured what they did 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.
This same terrible crime is what people are facing every day in our families, communities, country and the world at large. For this same reason, a lot of people have died, and some will still die, and some will continue to suffer because of the truth they have spoken to the enemies of truth.
But should we stop speaking the truth because of fear of losing our lives? I don't think so, because truth saves life; it brings freedom; it releases tension; it brings peace; and it settles quarrels and disputes. Truth is the freedom that 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.
Thus, St. Paul in our first reading today said that it was to shame the wise that God chose what is foolish by human reckoning, and to shame what is strong that he chose what is weak by human reckoning; those whom the world thinks common and contemptible are the ones that God has chosen The human race has nothing to boast about to God, but you, God has made members of Christ Jesus and by God’s doing he has become our wisdom, and our virtue, and our holiness, and our freedom. If anyone wants to boast, let him boast about the Lord.
Dear friends, why do we prefer lies and deception over truth? How far can we stand the cost of speaking the truth amid influential and ‘powerful' people? Like Herod, how often do we make bad decisions out of pride and fail to reverse them? When we make such bad decisions, how quickly are we able to change our minds and admit that we are wrong? Also, 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? Would I have protested or stayed silent? Thus, what do we do when we see others suffering injustice? Do we have the courage to speak up, even at the cost of losing, our job, our position, our vocation, friends and even 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. But St. John the Baptist died for the truth he spoke to Herod; through his intercession, grant us the grace and courage to become the instrument of your word in truth and deeds, and so speak the truth always to humanity, no matter the cost. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Wishing you a fruitful weekend.
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