DAILY- HOMILY

05 February 2016 

Friday, 4th Week in Ordinary Time

St. Agatha, Virgin and Martyr 

Memorial. Red.      

Sir 47:2 – 11 / Mk 6:14 – 29

St. Agatha (231  - 251) was martyred in Sicily during the time of Decius. 

From the Gospel Reading: Mk 6: 17b - 28

Herod had ordered John to be arrested and had him bound and put in prison because of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip. Herod had married her and John had told him, "It is not right for you to live with your brother's wife." So Herodias held a grudge against John and wanted to kill him, but she could not because Herod respected John. He knew John to be an upright and holy man and kept him safe. And he liked listening to him, although he became very disturbed whenever he heard him.

On that occasion [Herod's birthday] the daughter of Herodias came in and danced; and she delighted Herod and his guests. The king said to the girl, "Ask me for anything you want and I will give it to you." And he went so far as to say with many oaths, "I will give you anything you ask, even half my kingdom." She went out to consult her mother, "What shall I ask for?" The mother replied, "The head of John the Baptist." The girl hurried to the king and made her request: "I want you to give me the head of John the Baptist, here and now, on a dish." 

The king was very displeased, but he would not refuse in front of his guests because of his oaths. So he sent one of the bodyguards with orders to bring John's head. He went and beheaded John in prison; then he brought the head on a dish and gave it to the girl. And the girl gave it to her mother. 

Reflection

Who is John the Baptist?  He is the Precursor, the cousin of Jesus who announced the coming of the Lord and Messiah.  He exhorted the people to reform their lives and turn to God.  Yet because of this, he was imprisoned and beheaded. Many prophets before him also suffered the same fate.  

When are we called to be John the Baptists?   It is when we have to tell the truth to other people who are living in sin or doing injustice to their neighbor.  Even if we will be ridiculed or suffer physical harm for doing so, we must speak out in order to protect others and bring the sin into the light.  The prophet has an unenviable task – to tell the truth of God's Word.  Sometimes we have to go against family and friends, to correct them and stop them from doing wrong.  We do these things not out of hatred or revenge, but out of love, and in order to save their souls from damnation.  Really good people don't enjoy correcting others.  They suffer when they have to remind others to do what is right, especially  in order to guide them to salvation.  Yet they do so out of love for them.

WE PRAY FOR MTQ DAILY PRAYER DIARY INTENTIONS:

BIRTHDAY

     Veronica Lim Gatamco

Finally, we pray for one another, for those who have asked our prayers and for those who need our prayers the most. 

Have a good day!

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