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From: Jeremiah 1:17-19

Vision of the boiling pot

[17] But you, gird up your loins; arise, and say to them everything that I command
you. Do not be dismayed by them, lest I dismay you before them. [18] And I,
behold, I make you this day a fortified city, an iron pillar, and bronze walls,
against the whole land, against the kings of Judah, its princes, its priests, and the
people of the land. [19] They will fight against you; but they shall not prevail
against you, for I am with you, says the Lord, to deliver you.”

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Commentary:

1:13-19. Jeremiah is shown a pot that is beginning to boil over (v. 13). He is
given to understand the meaning of the disquieting news that is reaching Jeru-
salem – rumours of advances by foreign armies that threaten the holy city from
the north (vv. 14-15). These reports are a warning that God sends his people to
encourage them to admit their unfaithfulness (v. 16). In this way the Lord is
beginning to announce a future punishment, which we shall hear much more
about as the book develops – a chastisement to be inflicted on the people of
Judah and Jerusalem for failing to keep the Covenant.

It will be up to Jeremiah to speak to them, reproaching them for their sins and
explaining the reasons for events (vv. 17-18) – not an easy task, but God will give
him the strength to perform it (v. 19).

This passage outlines the framework, the setting, of the oracles and narratives
contained in the book. God never forgets his people and, in a time of crisis, when
the kingdom of Judah is about to collapse, he chooses Jeremiah and sends him
out on his mission. God means him to show the people the real reasons for all
the distress they will meet and, once all the various disasters have come to pass,
he intends Jeremiah to console them and assure them that God never abandons
them.

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Source: “The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries”. Biblical text from the
Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries by members of
the Faculty of Theology, University of Navarre, Spain.

Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland, and
by Scepter Publishers in the United States.

From: Mark 6:17-29

John the Baptist Beheaded

[17] For Herod had sent and seized John, and bound him in prison for
the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife; because he had married
her. [18] For John said to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your
brother’s wife.” [19] And Herodias had a grudge against him, and
wanted to kill him. But she could not, [20] for Herod feared John,
knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and kept him safe.
When he heard him, he was much perplexed; and yet he heard him
gladly. [21] But an opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave
a banquet for his courtiers and officers and the leading men of Galilee.
[22] For when Herodias’ daughter came in and danced, she pleased
Herod and his guests; and the king said to the girl, “Ask me for what-
ever you wish, and I will grant it.” [23] And he said to her, “Whatever
you ask me, I will give you, even half of my kingdom.” [24] And she
went out, and said to her mother, “What shall I ask?” And she said,
“The head of John the Baptizer.” [25] And she came in immediately
with haste to the king, and asked, saying, “I want you to give me at
once the head of John the Baptizer on a platter.” [26] And the King
was exceedingly sorry; but because of his oath and his guests he did
not want to break his word to her. [27] And immediately the king sent
a soldier of the guard and gave orders to bring his head. He went and
beheaded him in the prison, [28] and brought his head on a platter,
and gave it to the girl; and the girl gave it to her mother. [29] When
his disciples heard of it, they came and took his body, and laid it in
a tomb.

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Commentary:

16-29. It is interesting that the extensive account of the death of John
the Baptist is inserted here in the Gospel narrative. The reason is St.
John the Baptist’s special relevance in the history of salvation: he is the
Precursor, entrusted with the task of preparing the way for the Messiah.
Besides, John the Baptist had a great reputation among the people:
they believed him to be a prophet (Mark 11:32); some even thought he
was the Messiah (Luke 3:15; John 1:20); and they flocked to him from
many places (Mark 1:5). Jesus Himself said: “Among those born of
women there has risen no one greater than John the Baptist” (Matthew
11:11). Later, the Apostle St. John will speak of him in the Gospel:
“There was a man sent from God, whose name was John” (John 1:6);
but the sacred text points out that, despite this, he was not the light,
but rather the witness to the light (John 1:6-8). More correctly, he was
the lamp carrying the light (John 5:35). We are told here that he was a
righteous man and preached to everyone what had to be preached: he
had a word for people at large, for publicans, for soldiers (Luke 3:10-14);
for Pharisees and Sadducees (Matthew 3:7-12); for King Herod himself
(Mark 6:18-20). This humble, upright and austere man paid with his life
for the witness he bore to Jesus the Messiah (John 1:29 and 36-37).

26. Oaths and promises immoral in content should never be made, and,
if made, should never be kept. This is the teaching of the Church, which
is summed up in the “St. Pius X Catechism”, 383, in the following way:
“Are we obliged to keep oaths we have sworn to do unjust and unlawful
things? Not only are we not obliged: we sin by making such oaths, for
they are prohibited by the Law of God or of the Church.”

Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland, and
by Scepter Publishers in the United States.