Beheading of the Holy Prophet, Forerunner, and Baptist John: 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.
2 Corinthians 7: 10-16
Brothers and sisters: Indeed, sorrow for God’s sake produces a repentance without regrets, leading to salvation, whereas worldly sorrow brings death. Just look at the fruit of this sorrow which stems from God. What a measure of holy zeal it has brought you, not to speak of readiness to defend yourselves! What indignation, fear, and longing! What ardent desire to restore the balance of justice! In every way you have displayed your innocence in this matter. Therefore, my writing to you was not intended for the man who had given the offense or for the one offended, but to make plain in the sight of God the devotion you have for us. This done, we are comforted.
Beyond this consolation, we have rejoiced even more at the joy of Titus because his mind has been set at rest by all of you. For though I had boasted to him about you, I was not put to shame. Rather, just as everything I ever said to you was true, so my boasting to Titus has been proved equally true. His heart embraces you with an expanding love as he recalls the obedience you showed to God when you received him in fear and trembling. I rejoice because I trust you utterly.
Mark 2: 18-22
At that time John’s disciples and the Pharisees were accustomed to fast. People came to Jesus with the objection, “Why do John’s disciples and those of the Pharisees fast while yours do not?” Jesus replied: “How can the guests at a wedding fast as long as the groom is still among them? So long as the groom stays with them, they cannot fast. The day will come, however, when the groom will be taken away from them; on that day they will fast. No one sews a patch of shrunken cloth on an old cloak. If he should do so, the very thing he has used to cover the hole would pull away – the new from the old – and the tear would get worse. Similarly, no man pours new wine into old wineskins. If he does so, the wine will burst the skins, and both wine and skins will be lost. No, new wine is poured into new skins.”
Icon courtesy of Jack Figel, Eastern Christian Publications – ecpubs.com
Thursday, August 28 –
