IN LIFE AND IN DEATH

Friday in the 4th Week of the Ordinary Time
Mk 6:14-29

John’s birth was the fulfillment of God’s promise to his parents Zechariah and Elizabeth. His death was the fulfillment of Herod’s promise to Salome, daughter of Herod’s mistress. In life and in death, John’s role was to be the fulfillment of promises. What a beautiful role! What a dangerous role as well!

Two promises: one was a promise of life while the other was a deadly promise. The former was God’s graciousness to man while the latter was man’s hatred to man. The first came when God refreshed a barren womb while the second came when an axe fell upon a prophet’s head. Two promises but extremely different from each other.

We, too, make promises, do we not? What kind of promises do we make? Promises of life or deadly promises? Coming from graciousness or erupting from hatred? One that links or one that cuts?

Two different promises, one and the same man as fulfillment: John the Baptist. In the first, he was a gift; in the second, a victim. In the first, he was a feeble child; in the second, a heroic martyr. In the first, he made the people around him dumbfounded with amazement and joy; in the second, those who feared him silenced him.

Do we also find our selves as the fulfillment of promises? Are we gifts or victims? Are we feeble children or heroic martyrs? Are we welcomed with joy or are we feared?

In fulfilling his role, John was a powerful sign. He pointed not only to the coming of the Messiah, but to the Messiah’s very presence in their midst. By his martyrdom, he pointed to the continuing presence of the same Messiah in the world and in the hearts of every believer. He was Jesus’ greatest prophet. He pointed to Jesus in life and in death.

To whom do our lives point to? Most likely, it will be the same when death comes.