DGeMs- Daily Gospel eMessage
Dear Friend in the Lord,
Martyrdom – John the Baptist: Today’s account of the beheading of John the Baptist reminds us to live our faith with fidelity, and our love and hope in God single-mindedly. Then like John the Baptist, we will be fearless in times of threats, joyous when God’s Will is loved and served, and peaceful even when the crosses are heavy.
Fr Philip Heng, S.J.
Mark 6:22-28
When the daughter of Herodias came in and danced, she delighted Herod and his guests; so the king said to the girl, ‘Ask me anything you like and I will give it you.’ And he swore her an oath, ‘I will give you anything you ask, even half my kingdom.’
She went out and said to her mother, ‘What shall I ask for?’ She replied, ‘The head of John the Baptist.’ The girl at once rushed back to the king and made her request, ‘I want you to give me John the Baptist’s head, immediately, on a dish.’
The king was deeply distressed but, thinking of the oaths he had sworn and of his guests, he was reluctant to break his word to her. At once the king sent one of the bodyguard with orders to bring John’s head. The man went off and beheaded him in the prison; then he brought the head on a dish and gave it to the girl, and the girl gave it to her mother.