Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist

4 AUGUST (Mt 14,1-12)

The strength of sin is sin. Once you let it enter your heart, it multiplies more than a thousand pathogen agents. It comes to the point of producing even more severe, larger, and more numerous sins. David first committed the sin of adultery and then of murder, not of a single person, but of many. Daily, experience, history teach us that every sin committed drives one to make even monstrous crimes. It is as if sin obscured intelligence, wisdom, and light.

At the turn of the year, when kings go out on campaign, David sent out Joab along with his officers and the army of Israel, and they ravaged the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah. David, however, remained in Jerusalem. One evening David rose from his siesta and strolled about on the roof of the palace. From the roof he saw a woman bathing, who was very beautiful. David had inquiries made about the woman and was told, “She is Bathsheba, daughter of Eliam, and wife of (Joab’s armor-bearer) Uriah the Hittite.” Then David sent messengers and took her. When she came to him, he had relations with her, at a time when she was just purified after her monthly period. She then returned to her house. But the woman had conceived, and sent the information to David, “I am with child.” David therefore sent a message to Joab, “Send me Uriah the Hittite.” So Joab sent Uriah to David. When he came, David questioned him about Joab, the soldiers, and how the war was going, and Uriah answered that all was well. David then said to Uriah, “Go down to your house and bathe your feet.” Uriah left the palace, and a portion was sent out after him from the king’s table. But Uriah slept at the entrance of the royal palace with the other officers of his lord, and did not go down to his own house. David was told that Uriah had not gone home. So he said to Uriah, “Have you not come from a journey? Why, then, did you not go down to your house?” Uriah answered David, “The ark and Israel and Judah are lodged in tents, and my lord Joab and your majesty’s servants are encamped in the open field. Can I go home to eat and to drink and to sleep with my wife? As the Lord lives and as you live, I will do no such thing.” Then David said to Uriah, “Stay here today also, I shall dismiss you tomorrow.” So Uriah remained in Jerusalem that day. On the day following, David summoned him, and he ate and drank with David, who made him drunk. But in the evening he went out to sleep on his bed among his lord’s servants, and did not go down to his home. The next morning David wrote a letter to Joab which he sent by Uriah. In it he directed: “Place Uriah up front, where the fighting is fierce. Then pull back and leave him to be struck down dead.” So while Joab was besieging the city, he assigned Uriah to a place where he knew the defenders were strong. When the men of the city made a sortie against Joab, some officers of David’s army fell, and among them Uriah the Hittite died. (2Sam 11,1-17).

Herod committed the sin of adultery. He took with him his brother’s wife. He brought into his home the mother, the adviser, and the architect of his downfall. Not only did this woman take possession of his body, but even his mind, his heart, and his will. Herod became prisoners of the sin he had committed, and the slave of his passion.

At that time Herod the tetrarch heard of the reputation of Jesus and said to his servants, “This man is John the Baptist. He has been raised from the dead; that is why mighty powers are at work in him.” Now Herod had arrested John, bound (him), and put him in prison on account of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip, for John had said to him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.” Although he wanted to kill him, he feared the people, for they regarded him as a prophet. But at a birthday celebration for Herod, the daughter of Herodias performed a dance before the guests and delighted Herod so much that he swore to give her whatever she might ask for. Prompted by her mother, she said, “Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist.” The king was distressed, but because of his oaths and the guests who were present, he ordered that it be given, and he had John beheaded in the prison. His head was brought in on a platter and given to the girl, who took it to her mother. His disciples came and took away the corpse and buried him; and they went and told Jesus.

Herodias did not bring herself alone in the house of Herod, she also introduced her daughter, to Herod another source of sin and ignorance. He even fell in love with the latter and under oath he promised to give her whatever she had asked him. That is how the martyrdom of John the Baptist is explained. Let nobody wonder about Herod. Let nobody blame him. Let nobody condemn him. What happened to him can happen to any one of us, if we will not put all the care not to allow the first sin to conquer us.

Virgin Mary, Mother of the Redemption, Angels, and Saints make us in grace and without sin.