August 29, 2012 – Mark 6:17-29 – The Death of John the Baptist

But when Herod heard of it, he said, John, whom I beheaded, has been raised…..For Herod himself had sent men who arrested John, bound him, and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, because Herod had married her. For John had been telling Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brothers’ wife.” And Herodias had a grudge against him and wanted to kill him. But she could not, for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he protected him.… He went and beheaded him in the prison brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl. Then the girl gave it to her mother. When his disciples heard about it, they came and took his body, and lay in a tomb.

St. John the Baptist

Today is the feast of the memorial of the Passion of John the Baptist. Father Michael Coutts said that “passion” means suffering and we remember St. John who died as a prophet. His work is to spread the gospel and spoke with clarity of his message “do good and avoid evil. He met invariably with opposition group who follow the easy path. He followed the narrow path towards God’s kingdom, which is seldom tread upon by people nowadays. His motto and advice for his followers is to “preach what you believe and practice what you preach.”