Vengeance

The beheading of John the Baptist recounted in the Gospel chosen for  Memorial of the Passion of St. John the Baptist raises the ugly head of vengeance. Herodias was angered by John's denouncement of her illegal marriage to her brother-in-law, King Herod, and found a way to eliminate him without incriminating herself.  She helped her daughter, Salome, fulfill the oath Herod had made in front of all his guests, the give her anything she wanted, "even half of his kingdom." (Mk 6:17-29).  (The dance must have been exceptional, or Herod, very drunk!)   Evil lurks in this world and in the hearts of all of us...in some it is more pronounced and visible tha n in others. This good man was a victim of it.  So many throughout history have suffered a similar fate because of it.  We need to be vigilant, lest we too fall into some form of vengeance, even the most subtle and ostensibly "harmless" form. That's why we pray,  "And lead us not into temptation, but DELIVER US FROM EVIL." (The Lord's Prayer).
Bro, Rene