King Herod was a powerful and wealthy man in Judea. He had everything he could ever want. We see in the reading that after marrying his brother’s wife, Herod had John imprisoned for speaking out against him. For John said to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife”.
Herod feared John – believing him to be a holy man and this stopped him from harming John. But he was a man of weak character who sought pleasure and the approval of others instead of doing what was right. So, when pressed with the decision to have a man put to death at someone else’s request, Herod showed his true character. King Herod, out of impulse and the desire to please others, had John beheaded. John the Baptist died speaking the truth to those who needed to hear it most
Since the beheading of John the Baptist through to the present time, many of God’s people have experienced persecution on account of speaking the goodness, truth and beauty of Christ’s teachings. The question for us is this: Where do we stand when put in a situation to witness to the Lord? Do we trust God for the strength to choose what is right and reject what is wrong?
The Holy Spirit fills us with the courage, love and patience to make Jesus Christ known and loved.
Are you ready to make the Lord Jesus known and loved, and if necessary, to suffer for his sake and the Gospel?
by Cosme Cham