DGeMs- Daily Gospel eMessage
Dear Friend in the Lord,
“Excessive and Impulsive”: In today’s Gospel, Herodias’ daughter so delighted King Herod by her dance that he promised to give her anything she asked, even half of his kingdom. Ponder on, “When we live excessively and impulsively, we are clearly not living a discerned life of Christ’s Gospel”.
Fr Philip Heng, S.J.
Mark 6:18-20a, 21-25a, 26-27
John had told Herod, ‘It is against the law for you to have your brother’s wife.’ As for Herodias, she was furious with him and wanted to kill him, but she was not able to do so, because Herod was afraid of John, knowing him to be a good and holy man, and gave him his protection.
An opportunity came on Herod’s birthday when he gave a banquet for the nobles of his court, for his army officers and for the leading figures in Galilee. When the daughter of this same 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 hurried straight back to the king and made her request. 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. So the king at once sent one of the bodyguards with orders to bring John’s head.