It Is John Whom I Beheaded!

Friday, February 7, 2025

Heb 13:1-8; Mk 6:14-29

Today’s Gospel highlights the manifestations of a guilty and doubtful conscience in Herod’s confusion. 

While the Gospel describes Herod’s admiration for John the Baptist, it also highlights how he was forced to behead the prophet on account of his promise to his daughter. 

Though it was Herod who killed John, the references made to Jesus rekindle his memories of John. In other words, for Herod and the people, Jesus became a replica of John by reminding them of every attribute that John himself possessed and manifested in his life. 

Herod feared John for his righteousness and holiness. For Herod, Jesus became an unpleasant reminder of John the Baptist by who he was and the repentance he preached about. The guilty conscience of Herod could not evade the striking similarities between Jesus and John. 

Herod revealed his admiration for Jesus. Just as he liked to listen to John, he wanted to see Jesus (Lk 28:3). This shows that Herod wanted to clear his confusion about Jesus who reminded him of John whom he beheaded. 

Here, we cannot be simplistic to conclude that it was Jesus’ external appearance that Herod mistook to be John. His confusion regarding Jesus looks more profound. His confusion was more related to Jesus’ qualities that Herod either feared, admired, or respected in John. It was because Jesus became the embodiment of John, in a way bringing John back to life, that Herod wanted to see Jesus. 

Herod could have rectified his life through Jesus, though he missed the opportunity for conversion and repentance when it presented itself through John. 

Herod is a reminder that we are graced with a second opportunity in life, sometimes better than the first one. We may have missed out on the silver, but not the golden. 

Let us pray that we may wake up to moments of dawn to transform our lives. 

Fr. Dhinakaran Savariyar