A reading from the gospel according to Mark 6:14-29:

14 King Herod heard about Jesus, for his fame had become widespread, and people were saying, “John the Baptist has been raised from the dead; that is why mighty powers are at work in him.”
15 Others were saying, “He is Elijah”; still others, “He is a prophet like any of the prophets.”
16 But when Herod learned of it, he said, “It is John whom I beheaded. He has been raised up.”
17 Herod was the one who had John arrested and bound in prison on account of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip, whom he had married.
18 John had said to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.”
19 Herodias harbored a grudge against him and wanted to kill him but was unable to do so.
20 Herod feared John, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man, and kept him in custody. When he heard him speak he was very much perplexed, yet he liked to listen to him.
21 Herodias had an opportunity one day when Herod, on his birthday, gave a banquet for his courtiers, his military officers, and the leading men of Galilee.
22 His own daughter came in and performed a dance that delighted Herod and his guests. The king said to the girl, “Ask of me whatever you wish and I will grant it to you.”
23 He even swore many things to her, “I will grant you whatever you ask of me, even to half of my kingdom.”
24 She went out and said to her mother, “What shall I ask for?” Her mother replied, “The head of John the Baptist.”
25 The girl hurried back to the king’s presence and made her request, “I want you to give me at once on a platter the head of John the Baptist.”
26 The king was deeply distressed, but because of his oaths and the guests he did not wish to break his word to her.
27 So he promptly dispatched an executioner with orders to bring back his head. He went off and beheaded him in the prison.
28 He brought in the head on a platter and gave it to the girl. The girl in turn gave it to her mother.
29 When his disciples heard about it, they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.

Reflection: Standing for the Truth

John the Baptist was a prophet. He was given the privilege to make the Lord’s path straight. In all his life, he made sure he accomplished His mission. He preached the gospel of repentance and truth. In all his life, he showed us the way to live in simplicity and holiness. Above all, he showed us the meaning of courage.

Yes courage! Herod was a powerful figure. He can do anything he wanted. And he did. He married the wife of his own brother and when the prophet John spoke against it, he arrested poor John and had him beheaded on the intercession of his illegal wife through their own daughter. John did not cower in fear and instead, faced the consequence of his action.

John the Baptist is just one of the best examples of a persecuted or martyred preacher or any person for that matter who attempts to speak the truth. Truth really hurts and many people would rather choose to live in the lie rather than the truth. It takes courage to stand up for the truth and John the Baptist gave his life for it.

Aside from courage, the other important lesson that must be learned from John the Baptist is faithfulness. Let us faithful to our mission in spite of the threats to our life. It is better to be headless rather than faithless.
It is better to be faithful to God who is righteous than to earthly kings who are foolish. Like Peter and the other apostles, let us obey God than human beings (Acts 5:29).

See also: Reflection on the Death of John the Baptist