Readings: Hebrews 13:1-8, Ps. 27:1,3,5,8-9, Mark 6:14-29
“King Herod heard of it, for Jesus’ name had become known. Some were saying, ‘John the baptiser has been raised from the dead; and for this reason, these powers are at work in him.’” (Mark 6:14)
- I found a line in one of Shakespeare’s plays, Macbeth, quite inspirational. Macbeth, after having become guilty of murder, heard a knock on the door and said: “Where is that knocking coming from? What’s happening to me, that I’m freighted of every noise? (looking at his hands). Whose hands are these? Ha! They’re plucking out my eyes. Will all the water in the ocean wash this blood from my hands? Instead, my hands will stain the seas scarlet, turning green waters red.”
- Dear friends, even the most hardened criminal suffers from guilt. There are things we do that we may never be able to forgive ourselves for. In our Gospel passage this morning, Herod tries to convince himself that Jesus Christ is the resurrected version of John the Baptist, whom he killed by offering his head as payment for a little girl’s dance.
- From the moment this happened, Herod was never himself; his mind was never at rest, the words of John the Baptist kept haunting him about his adulterous union with his brother’s wife, and he kept wishing he could turn back the hands of the clock. Hearing of Jesus’ fame became a consolation for him.
- Whether we like it or not, sin robs us of our peace of mind. It is always more profitable to avoid sin than to live with the guilt. The pain of avoiding sin is brief, but the pain of a guilty conscience lasts an entire lifetime.
- The Letter to the Hebrews mentions certain sins we could regret forever: unkindness to strangers, indifference to prisoners, defiling the marriage bed, love of money, and lack of contentment. As the book of Hebrews tells us, only when we avoid sin can we confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid; what can man do to me?”
- In other words, living a sinful life puts us in bondage – a life of fear. Because of what we have done in the past, we lose confidence in God’s protection because we feel that either God is punishing us already or he is planning to punish us soon.
- Sin even makes us live in fear of people because we never know who will expose our secrets or who will try to retaliate for the evils we have done to them in the past. Dear friends, avoiding sin is more profitable than living with guilt.
Let us pray: Almighty, ever-living God, strengthen our resolve to live righteously. We ask this through Our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God forever and ever. Amen.
Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. May God’s abundant blessings be upon us all. (Friday of week 4 in Ordinary Time. Liturgical Colour: Green. Bible Study: Hebrews 13:1-8, Ps. 27:1,3,5,8-9, Mark 6:14-29).
@Rev. Fr. Evaristus E. Abu