3 August 2019
Saturday of the Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time
Today’s reading from the Gospel of Mathew recalls the odd circumstances of the death of John the Baptist. The story makes for good telling because it profiles the majesty of the preaching of John against the absurdity and decadence of those who sought his death. The story of John the Baptist is a story retold in Christian history with many versions. Standing up for the truth usually comes at a cost since the truth usually make persons, usually those in power, a bit uncomfortable. It is the wise, holy, and courage person who seeks criticism. Our constant prayer is to seek to know when to speak and when to remain silent. This discernment, this choice of action, perhaps remains our greatest challenge since it will be by our proclamation of the word of God in word and deed that will help bring about God’s Kingdom. Our challenge is to proclaim God’s Kingdom, not our own, and to be constantly attentive to the means by which we can use our gifts to achieve the petition we pray daily: Your Kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven.