Because the holy forerunner and baptist John had denounced Herod Antipas for putting away his own wife and marrying the wife of his brother Philip, Herod imprisoned him. At a feast held in honor of Herod’s birthday, Herod’s stepdaughter Salome danced for him. Herod promised her anything; her mother Herodias told her to ask for the head of John on a platter. This martyrdom is commemorated on this day because a church, built over the Forerunner’s tomb, was dedicated on this day to his beheading by the Emperor Constantine and his mother Helena.
The memory of the righteous is celebrated with praise, but for you, O Forerunner, the Lord’s testimony is enough. You were shown to be more honorable than the prophets since you were deemed worthy to baptize in the waters the Lord you had proclaimed. Therefore, you fought for the truth, and with joy proclaimed the good news to those in Hades, that God has appeared in the flesh to take away the sins of the world and to grant us great mercy.
The glorious beheading of the Forerunner was part of God’s saving plan that the coming of the Savior might be announced even to those in Hades. Let Herodias mourn for she sought a lawless murder because she loved neither the Law of God nor eternal life, but only this false and fleeting life.
Acts 13: 25-33
In those days Paul spoke to the Israelites saying: “As John’s career was coming to an end, he would say, ‘What you suppose me to be, I am not. Rather, look for the one who comes after me. I am not worthy to unfasten the sandals on his feet.’ My brethren, children of the family of Abraham and you others who reverence our God, it was to us that this message of salvation was sent forth. The inhabitants of Jerusalem and their rulers failed to recognize [Jesus], and in condemning him they fulfilled the words of the prophets which we read sabbath after sabbath. Even though they found no charge against him which deserved death, they begged Pilate to have him executed. Once they had thus brought about all that had been written of him, they took him down from the tree and laid him in a tomb. Yet God raised him from the dead, and for many days thereafter Jesus appeared to those who had come up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem. These are his witnesses now before the people.
“We ourselves announce to you the good news that what God promised our fathers he has fulfilled for us, their children in raising up Jesus, according to what is written in the second psalm, ‘You are my son; this day I have begotten you.’”
Mark 6: 14-29
At that time King Herod came to hear of Jesus, for his reputation had become widespread and people were saying, “John the Baptizer has been raised from the dead; that is why such miraculous powers are at work in him.” Others were saying, “He is Elijah”; still others, “He is a prophet equal to any of the prophets.” On hearing of Jesus, Herod exclaimed, “John, whose head I had cut off, has been raised up!” Herod was the one who had ordered John arrested, chained, and imprisoned on account of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip, who he had married. That was because John had told Herod, “It is not right for you to live with your brother’s wife.” Herodias harbored a grudge against John for this and wanted to kill him but was unable to do so. Herod feared John, knowing him to be an upright and holy man, and kept him in custody. When he heard John speak he was very much disturbed; yet he felt the attraction of his words. Herodias had her chance one day when Herod held a birthday dinner for his court circle, military officers, and the leading men of Galilee. Herodias’ own daughter came in at one point and performed a dance which delighted Herod and his guests. The king told the girl, “Ask for anything you want and I will give it to you.” He went so far as to swear to her: “I will grant you whatever you ask, even half my kingdom!” She went out and said to her mother, “What should I ask for?” The mother answered, “The head of John the Baptizer.” At that the girl hurried back to the king’s presence and made her request: “I want you to give me, at once, the head of John the Baptizer on a platter.” The king bitterly regretted the request; yet because of his oath and the presence of the guests, he did not want to refuse her. He promptly dispatched an executioner, ordering him to bring back the Baptizer’s head. The man went and beheaded John in prison. He brought in the head on a platter and gave it to the girl, and the girl gave it to her mother. Later, when his disciples heard about this, they came and carried his body away and placed it in a tomb.
Galatians 3:23 – 4:5
Brothers and sisters: Before the faith came we were under the constraint of the law, locked in until the faith that was coming should be revealed. In other words, the law was our monitor until Christ came to bring about our justification through faith. But now that faith is here, we are no longer in the monitor’s charge. Each one of you is a son of God because of your faith in Christ Jesus. All of you who have been baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with him. There does not exist among you Jew or Greek, slave or freeman, male or female. All are one in Christ Jesus. Furthermore, if you belong to Christ you are the descendants of Abraham, which means you inherit all that was promised.
Brothers and sisters: as long as a designated heir is not of age his condition is no different from that of a slave, even though in name he is master of all his possessions; for he is under the supervision of guardians and administrators until the time set by his father. In the same way, while we were not yet of age we were like slaves subordinated to the elements of the world; but when the designated time had come, God sent forth his Son born of a woman, born under the law, to deliver from the law those who were subjected to it, so that we might receive our status as adopted sons.
Mark 6: 30-45
At that time the apostles returned to Jesus and reported to him all that they had done and what they had taught. He said to them, “Come by yourselves to an out-of-the-way place and rest a little.” People were coming and going in great numbers, making it impossible for them to so much as eat. So Jesus and the apostles went off in the boat by themselves to a deserted place. People saw them leaving, and many got to know about it. People from all the towns hastened on foot to the place, arriving ahead of them.
Upon disembarking Jesus saw a vast crowd. He pitied them, for they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them at great length. It was now getting late and his disciples came to him with a suggestion: “This is a deserted place and it is already late. Why do you not dismiss them so that they can go to the crossroads and villages around here and buy themselves something to eat?” “You give them something to eat,” Jesus replied. At that they said, “Are we to go and spend two hundred days’ wages for bread to feed them?” “How many loaves have you?” Jesus asked. “Go and see.” When they learned the number they answered, “Five, and two fish.” He told them to make the people sit down on the green grass in groups or parties. The people took their places in hundreds and fifties, neatly arranged like flower beds. Then, taking the five loaves and two fish, Jesus raised his eyes to heaven, pronounced a blessing, broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples to distribute. He divided the two fish among all of them and they ate until they had their fill. They gathered up enough leftovers to fill twelve baskets, besides what remained of the fish. Those who had eaten the loaves numbered five thousand men. Immediately afterward Jesus insisted that his disciples get into the boat and precede him to the other side toward Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd.
Icon courtesy of Jack Figel, Eastern Christian Publications – ecpubs.com
Wednesday, August 28 –
