3 AUGUST (Mt 14,1-12)

Herod is not a person with the true faith, according to the truth contained in revelation, which teaches that you only live once. There is neither reincarnation nor transmigration of souls from one body to another. There may be a momentary resurrection, that is a dead body can return to live, but always with his soul and for another short period of time. But never the soul of one into the body of another. Who were to think about these things or even believe them and teach them, let him know that he is out not of the faith, but of the very reality of man. A single body, a single soul and a single life. Never a soul in more bodies and in more lives. This truth is the essence of man.

What Herod affirms presupposes that a soul can live in another. Since every body comes into the world with its own soul, it becomes impossible to think that the soul of the body of this man, who is called Jesus, has gone into eternity, to give way to the soul of John. These are absurdities that must never live in our minds. This is a falsehood that you must not even consider as a remote thought. Unfortunately, the world is full of this nonsense and these thoughts. Even among the disciples of Jesus this happens, so great is ignorance in things pertaining to God. Never might the formation of the Christian people be considered completed. It is always at the beginning, in its infancy. Every day you have to start over again. That is how Ecclesiastes reveals the truth about man. It is a revelation that deserves all our attention.

Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come And the years approach of which you will say, I have no pleasure in them; Before the sun is darkened. and the light, and the moon, and the stars, while the clouds return after the rain; When the guardians of the house tremble, and the strong men are bent, And the grinders are idle because they are few, and they who look through the windows grow blind; When the doors to the street are shut, and the sound of the mill is low; When one waits for the chirp of a bird, but all the daughters of song are suppressed; And one fears heights, and perils in the street; When the almond tree blooms, and the locust grows sluggish and the caper berry is without effect, Because man goes to his lasting home, and mourners go about the streets; Before the silver cord is snapped and the golden bowl is broken, And the pitcher is shattered at the spring, and the broken pulley falls into the well, And the dust returns to the earth as it once was, and the life breath returns to God who gave it. Vanity of vanities, says Qoheleth, all things are vanity! (Eccl 12,1-8).

We could say: truth of truths, all is truth. Unfortunately, today everything is falsehood. Falsity of falsities, all is falsity about this subject. Only the Word of Jesus is the light that illuminates the peoples. There are no other lights, even if they are passed off as lights.

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.

The Martyrdom of John the Baptist is not the result of a single sin, but of a multitude of sins that all united against him. Even in his martyrdom John is the Precursor of Jesus the Lord. The martyrdom of Jesus is also the result of a coalition of sinners. These, divided and opposed to each other, become concordant only in wickedness against Lord Jesus. Evil that is always divided in itself, always finds its principle of unity in the struggle with the righteous and the saint of God. The mystery of iniquity is really great. When two sinners come together, it is at work.

Virgin Mary, Mother of the Redemption, Angels and Saints make us true in the faith.