Standing Up for the Truth

 

Matthew 14:1-12

John the Baptist Beheaded

14 At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the reports about Jesus, ² and he said to his attendants, “This is John the Baptist; he has risen from the dead! That is why miraculous powers are at work in him.”

³ Now Herod had arrested John and bound him and put him in prison because of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, ⁴ for John had been saying to him: “It is not lawful for you to have her.” ⁵ Herod wanted to kill John, but he was afraid of the people, because they considered John a prophet.

⁶ On Herod’s birthday the daughter of Herodias danced for the guests and pleased Herod so much ⁷ that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked. ⁸ Prompted by her mother, she said, “Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist.” ⁹ The king was distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he ordered that her request be granted ¹⁰ and had John beheaded in the prison. ¹¹ His head was brought in on a platter and given to the girl, who carried it to her mother. ¹² John’s disciples came and took his body and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus.

Standing up for the truth is a dangerous position. John the Baptist did it and lost his head. In today's world of misinformation and lies, how do we know, as Pilate put it, "What is truth?" Every now and then, the lies are exposed and due action taken, but how many persist for years until they are exposed? We must pray to know what is truth, try our best to be informed by reliable sources, and pray for the courage to stand up for the truth. Ir might not make us popular, and we might lose our credibility with the world, or even our heads, but John did it and is a saint. So can we.

 
Bro. Rene

Dear God, help me to know what is true and give me the courage to stand up for it. Amen.

Carlo Acutis once said, “When we face the sun, we get a tan, but when we stand before Jesus in the Eucharist, we become saints.” St. John the Baptist, intercede for us. Help us reflect Jesus’ face in a world desperately needing God’s light and love.