Aug 29: MARTYRDOM OF JOHN THE BAPTIST
Jeremiah 1:17-19; Mk 6:17-29
God instructs Jeremiah; to stand up to evil and oppose it.
The book Ah, But Your Land Is Beautiful by Alan Paton contains a moving conversation between a white man and a black man. Both are putting their lives on the line for racial justice. At one point the white man turns to his black friend and says, "Things may be very rough for you. It won't be easy. What is your thinking about that?" The black man responds, "Well, I look at it this way. When I get up there, the great Judge will say, 'Where are your scars?" And if I say I haven't any, he will say, 'Were there no causes worthy of getting scars?""
Jeremiah and John the Baptist would have appreciated that conversation.
***
What kind of scars will we be able to show God? "It is by those who suffer that the world has been advanced." Leo Tolstoy
***
The Lord speaks to Jeremiah; "I will be with you to protect you.
In 1964 the Romanian government freed a number of religious and political prisoners. One was a Lutheran pastor by the name of Richard Wurmbrand. He spent three of his fourteen years in prison in solitary confinement. Yet he managed to keep his trust in God.
In his book In God's Underground, Wurmbrand gives us an insight into what kept him from worrying and losing hope. There he tells a story about Martin Luther.
On his early morning walks through the woods, Martin used to tip his hat to the birds and say: "Good morning, theologians-you wake and sing, but I, old fool, know less than you and worry about everything, instead of simply trusting in the heavenly Father's care."
***
God said to Jeremiah, "I will be with you to protect you." (TEV) How strong is our trust in God's protection?
Jesus said, "Do not be afraid." Luke 12:32
***
Introduction
As a witness to the integrity and the honest truth, John the Baptist lost his life to cunning and violence. But he had to speak, whatever the consequences. God’s word cannot be muzzled. Does the Church – do we – have this courage today?
Opening Prayer
Lord our God, St. John the Baptist prepared and went the way of your Son both in his birth and in his death. He died a martyr’s death because he stood up for integrity and truth. Give us the courage, we pray you, to speak out when needed in the name of the gospel and to bear witness in word and action to Christ Jesus, our Lord.
Intentions
– Lord, give eloquence and courage to our leaders and all teachers in the Church, that they may understand the Gospel and proclaim it as Good News of liberation to all, we pray:
– Lord, open our eyes to the miseries of people; make us concerned about those imprisoned in their fears and the grip of injustice, we pray:
– Lord, make us receptive to your word. Free us from banality and fear, our self-security and certainties, we pray:
Prayer over the Gifts
Lord our God, on the feast of your martyr John the Baptist we bring bread and wine before you to celebrate the memory of your Son. Give us John’s courage, to prepare and to be a straight road to your Son. May the message of our Christian living not be a voice in the wilderness but a humble way to Jesus Christ our Lord.
Prayer after Communion
Lord our God, in a world of violence we are easily afraid of bearing witness to the good news of your Son. We prefer prudence to courage. Stir us up and move us forward in the strength of this eucharist to speak your word of justice and truth and to abide by it, that we may win the whole kingdom of Jesus Christ our Lord.
Blessing
Today, with Jesus alive among us in our community, we should also be ready to say with Jesus: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon us. He sends us to bring Good News to the poor.” May Almighty God bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Commentary
Ask of a Lifetime
A young man was consumed with the desire to know life’s meaning. He heard about an all-knowing guru who lived on a mountain, who could answer him. However, no one before him had succeeded in reaching there, for the mountain was very dangerous to climb. Besides, the legend was that one could ask only one question to the guru. The man knew what to ask. And he resolutely climbed the mountain and reached the top. He was ceremoniously taken to the seat of the guru. To his utter disbelief, the guru was a young, beautiful woman. As he stood stunned, the lady guru said: “Ask your only question.” Stutteringly he asked: “Madam, are you married?”
Think now: Of all the things in the world Salome could have asked for, she asked for the head of John the Baptist! What could she have done with it, unless she were a cannibal? What a waste of an opportunity of a lifetime! But how different are we before God?
