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. 18 John had said to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” 19 Herodias harbored a grudge against him and wanted to kill him but was unable to do so. 20Herod 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. 21 She 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. 22 Herodias’s 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.” 23 He even swore [many things] to her, “I will grant you whatever you ask of me, even to half of my kingdom.” 24 She went out and said to her mother, “What shall I ask for?” She replied, “The head of John the Baptist.” 25 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.” 26 The king was deeply distressed, but because of his oaths and the guests he did not wish to break his word to her. 27 So he promptly dispatched an executioner with orders to bring back his head. He went off and beheaded him in the prison. 28 He brought in the head on a platter and gave it to the girl. The girl in turn gave it to her mother. 29 When his disciples heard about it, they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.
John the Baptist’s life and death show us what it means to witness faithfully to God. Chosen by God to prepare the way for Christ, John courageously confronted Herod about his unlawful marriage: “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife” (v. 18). This simple, uncompromising declaration of truth revealed his moral courage, but it also set him against powerful forces in the world.
Herod feared John because he recognized him as “a righteous and holy man” (v. 20), yet political and personal pressures prevented him from protecting John. Eventually, Herodias’s grudge led to John’s beheading, carried out swiftly and publicly (vv. 25-27). Through this, we see that standing for God often carries a cost—even the ultimate cost of life itself. John’s martyrdom mirrors the path of Christ: faithful obedience to God can invite suffering, persecution, and confrontation with worldly powers.
John’s role as the last prophet of the Old Covenant makes him a unique figure in salvation history. He serves as a bridge to Christ, announcing the coming of the Messiah and preparing hearts to receive Him. The Gospel emphasizes that John’s purpose was to point beyond himself: he must decrease so that Christ might increase (cf. Jn 3:30). This reminds us that the measure of true witness is not personal glory or recognition, but fidelity to God’s plan and the willingness to step aside so that the greater work of salvation can unfold. John’s example calls us to examine whether our actions lift up God’s truth and goodness or merely draw attention to ourselves.
John’s life and death remind us of the universal value of moral courage and integrity. He embodies the call to stand for truth, even when doing so brings personal risk. His story shows how steadfast commitment to what is right can confront injustice and challenge wrongdoing. It encourages us to participate in the greater purpose of promoting justice and goodness in the world, even when that path demands sacrifice.
For us today, the “cost of truth” may look different. It might be choosing honesty over convenience, defending the vulnerable, or living morally when society encourages compromise. John’s witness assures us that even small acts of courage and fidelity participate in a greater plan, reflecting truth, integrity, and love to the world. His example challenges us to examine our own lives: where are we bold for what is right, and where do we shy away? Following John’s lead, we are invited to embrace truth courageously, trusting that steadfast fidelity can shape the world in ways that endure far beyond our own understanding.
Lord, grant us the courage of John the Baptist to speak the truth with integrity, even when it is difficult or costly. Help us to stand for justice, to defend what is right, and to live with faithfulness that points beyond ourselves. May our words and actions reflect Your goodness, and may we trust that even small acts of fidelity participate in Your greater plan. Strengthen us to embrace truth courageously, so that our lives may witness to Your love and holiness in the world. Amen.
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Sources and References:
- The Holy Bible, New American Bible, Revised Edition (2011), Mark 6:17-29; John 3:30.
- A Catholic Commentary on Holy Scripture, ed. Bernard Orchard et al. (New York: Thomas Nelson, 1953), 470-472.
- The Navarre Bible: New Testament Expanded Edition, Faculty of the University of Navarre (Dublin: Four Courts / Scepter, 2008), 206-208.
- The Paulist Biblical Commentary, ed. José Enrique Aguilar Chiu et al. (New York: Paulist Press, 2018), 153-155.
- The New Jerome Biblical Commentary, ed. Raymond E. Brown et al. (Prentice Hall, 1990), 515-517.
- St. John Chrysostom (c. 347-407), Homilies on Matthew and Mark, Homily 87 on John the Baptist.
- St. Augustine of Hippo (354-430), Tractates on the Gospel of John, Tractate 35.
- Etienne Charpentier, How to Read the New Testament, trans. John Bowden (London: SCM Press, 1981), 122-124.
- Joseph Komonchak, Mary Collins, and Dermot Lane, eds., The New Dictionary of Theology (Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press, 1987), s.v. “John the Baptist.”
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