Many persons have a wrong idea of what constitutes true happiness. It is not attained through self-gratification but through fidelity to a worthy purpose.
- Helen Keller
(What might that purpose be for you?) |
HEB13:1-8; PS 27:1, 3, 5,
8B-9ABC
MK 6:14-29
King Herod heard about Jesus, for his fame had become widespread,
and people were saying,
"John the Baptist has been raised from the dead;
That is why mighty powers are at work in him."
Others
were saying, "He is Elijah";
still others, "He is a prophet like any of the prophets."
But when Herod learned of it, he said,
"It is John whom I beheaded. He has been raised up."
Herod was the one who had John arrested and bound in prison
on account of Herodias,
the wife of his brother Philip, whom he had married.
John had said to Herod,
"It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife."
Herodias harbored a grudge against him
and wanted to kill him but
was unable to do so.
Herod feared John, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man,
and kept him in custody.
When he heard him speak he was very much perplexed,
yet he liked to listen to him.
Herodias had an opportunity one day when Herod, on his birthday,
gave a banquet for his courtiers, his military officers,
and the leading men of Galilee.
His own daughter came in and performed a dance
that delighted Herod and his guests.
The king said to the girl,
"Ask of me
whatever you wish and I will grant it to you."
He even swore many things to her,
"I will grant you whatever you ask of me,
even to half of my kingdom."
She went out and said to her mother,
"What shall I ask for?"
Her mother replied, "The head of John the Baptist."
The girl hurried back to the king's presence and made her request,
"I want you to give me at once on a platter
the head of John the Baptist."
The king was deeply distressed,
but because of his
oaths and the guests
he did not wish to break his word to her.
So he promptly dispatched an executioner
with orders to bring back his head.
He went off and beheaded him in the prison.
He brought in the head on a platter
and gave it to the girl.
The girl in turn gave it to her mother.
When his disciples heard about it,
they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.
Reflection on the
Scriptures |
The recipients of the Letter to the Hebrews were folks who were flagging in their commitment to faith and the Christian life. The author addresses their lack of faith in the sacrifice and priesthood of Jesus. Hebrews has been the focus of the first readings in Ordinary Time since the ending of the Christmas season.
We all need to hear that message of
the author because of our need to grow in faithfulness and love as we encounter the daily-ness of our lives. Let’s look at just one of the features expressed in the first reading for today’s liturgy.
The reading is from the last chapter of Hebrews, a kind of summary of how to live effectively with the will to follow Jesus and make that following effective in their everyday lives. The
people are exhorted to live simply and to trust that “the Lord is my helper and I will not be afraid. What can anyone do to me?”
The virtues they are called to live out seem to be fundamental for living the Christ-life within them (and, clearly, within us): “do not neglect hospitality;” “be mindful of prisoners;” “let marriage be honored;” “let your life be free from love of money.” How
do these injunctions relate to us today?
by Tom Shanahan, S.J.
Revelations of Divine
Love - by Julian of Norwich
Thirteenth Revelation, Chapter 34
“All that is speedful for us to learn and to
know, full courteously will our Lord shew us”
God shewed full great pleasance that He hath in all men and women that mightily and meekly and with all
their will take the preaching and teaching of Holy Church. For it is His Holy Church: He is the Ground, He is the Substance, He is the Teaching, He is the Teacher, He is the End, He is the Meed for which every kind soul travaileth.
And this [of the Shewing] is [made] known, and shall be known to every soul to which the Holy Ghost declareth it. And I hope truly that all those that seek this, He shall speed:
for they seek God.
All this that I have now told, and more that I shall tell after, is comforting against sin. For in the Third Shewing when I saw that God doeth all that is done, I saw no sin: and then I saw that all is well. But when God shewed me for sin, then said He: All SHALL be well.
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