From: Mark 6:17-29
John the Baptist Beheaded
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[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 whatever 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."
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Source: "The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries". Biblical text
taken from the Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries
made by members of the Faculty of Theology of the University of
Navarre, Spain. Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock,
Co. Dublin, Ireland.
