Passion of John the Baptist - 29 August

Readings: 1 Corinthians 1:26–31; Psalm 33; Mark 6:17–29

Herod feared John the Baptist, and whenever he heard him speak, he was perplexed. He was afraid because he knew that John was holy and righteous, yet he enjoyed listening to him. Herod is the classic example of an indecisive person, drawn to what is good, perhaps even capable of seeing what is right, yet lacking the strength of character or moral maturity necessary to follow what he knows to be right and to order his desires accordingly. In a sense, Herod is ‘the man in the street’.

How common is this ambivalence in the face of holiness and righteousness? The Bible speaks of it often, in very different moments and contexts throughout the history of the people. ‘This people honours me with their lips, but their heart is far from me’ (Isaiah 29:13; Matthew 15:8). ‘Purify your hearts, you who are double-minded’ (James 4:8). ‘How long will you waver between two opinions?’ (1 Kings 18:21). ‘I do not do the good I want to do, but I do the evil I do not want to do’ (Romans 7:19).

Herod is not a likeable figure, and we might easily dismiss him as pathetic and ineffective. The frequency with which the Bible exhorts the people to resolve their wavering, reminding them of their own duplicity, is enough to assure us that the problem is not Herod’s alone, and that where we say ‘his’ or ‘theirs’, we should in fact say ‘mine’ and ‘ours’.

We see Herod’s problem in dramatic terms; indeed, it has often been dramatised by composers, playwrights and painters. For us, however, it is more useful to reflect on our own duplicity, on how this problem is present within ourselves. In what ways do I waver between different opinions? In what ways do I see what is good and yet do what is wrong? In what way do I continue to profess in words that I follow Christ whilst my heart, at least in part, is elsewhere?

We might find John the Baptist admirable but a little off-putting, a man of integrity, yes, but somewhat fierce in his manner and his teaching. As long as we see him in this light, we are more or less on Herod’s side, fearful of what John asks of us and yet eager to listen to him. For what he proclaims is simply the kingdom of God, the good news. His message is the message of Jesus, just as demanding and uncompromising. ‘Wretched man that I am,’ concludes Paul, reflecting on his own indecision. ‘Who will deliver me from this body of death?’ (Romans 7:24).

When we confront this problem head-on within ourselves, we arrive at the same question. Is it a problem of character or of upbringing? Is it a problem of nature or of nurture? Is it a matter of good fortune or misfortune? Is it simply a desire that proves too strong for reason?

Herod does not know whom to turn to for help, and the tragedy of John’s martyrdom ensues. Paul, on the other hand, knows whom to turn to: ‘Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ, our Lord.’ Let us, too, continue to look in that direction, towards the One whom John the Baptist pointed to as the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. Our hope is that He may also deal with the sins of my indecision. He teaches us not to be afraid, but to seek, to ask and to knock. He asks us to open the door to Him and to allow Him to strengthen us in holiness. He can do this, even though at times we may be like Herod.