Homily (Reflection) for Saturday of
the Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time (I) (03rd August, 2019) on the
Gospel
(BVM on Saturday, Opt. Mem.)
Lev 25:1.8-17;
Ps 66:2-3.5.7-8. (R. v.4);
Matt 14:1-12.
Topic: When ego turns centric.
When Herod heard about Jesus, he said that John the Baptist
had been raised from the dead. He bound and imprisoned him because John
condemned his adulterous union with his brother’s (Philip’s) wife. Herod would
have killed him but he feared the crowd who regarded him as a prophet. However,
the daughter of Herodias’ dance on his birthday made him to promise on oath to
grant whatever she might ask. Following her mother’s prompting she asked, “Give
me the head of John the Baptist here on a platter.” Although Herod was grieved
yet he instructed that John’s head be given to the girl because of his oath and
his guests. The girl took it to her mother.
When Herod could think about someone else, he thought about
himself. He commanded that John’s head be given to the girl because he was
thinking about himself alone. Otherwise, what else could have removed the fear
of the crowd in him? His thought of his oath and what his guests would think of
him carried the day. The anger in Herodias set fire that could not be quenched
by Herod’s feeling of extreme sadness.
Often we see both Herod and Herodias at play in us. Let no
one allow anger to lead him/her into sin, cf. Eph 4:26. And “Let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow
to anger” (Jas 1:19). We are nothing
without God, cf. 2Cor 3:5. We must
glorify God in everything we do, cf. 1Cor
6:20.
Bible Reading: 2Cor 4:1-10.
Thought for today: Worship God alone.
Let us pray: May God help us to do His will
always – Amen.
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