‘Ask me anything you like and I will give it you.’ And he swore her an oath, ‘I will give you anything you ask, even half my kingdom.’ She went out and said to her mother, ‘What shall I ask for?’ She replied, ‘The head of John the Baptist.’
Scripture can be so, so gruesome.
Jesus said, in Luke 12:52-53, From now to on a household of five will be divided, three against two and two against three; a father will be divided against his son and a son against his father, a mother against her daughter and a daughter against her mother, a mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.” We all strive for peace in our lives, but it seems to escape us. Although there are bright spots. Last Friday Anna and I spent the afternoon with our grandson, Thomas. Last Sunday we celebrated the birthday of our granddaughter, Victoria. We had a great family weekend. Joy!
The purpose and existence of John the Baptist was a voice proclaiming the Lord in the wilderness. John was driven even in his mother Elizabeth’s womb to proclaim the coming of the Lord. Big families will love this. John was the cousin of Jesus.
John was a prophet. People came to him not because of his miracles, but because he told the truth and offered hope by encouraging the people of God that the Lord was nearby. Repent and Prepare the way of the Lord. John told the truth and didn’t lie. People know and respect those qualities.in a man. Unlike King Herod who was only looking for riches and pleasure. John told it like it was when told Herod that he had taken his brother’s wife in an illicit marriage. Sinners don’t like the truth.
What God wants is for you all to be holy. He wants you to keep away from fornication, and each one of you to know how to use the body that belongs to him in a way that is holy and honorable, not giving way to selfish lust like the pagans who do not know God. I have quoted the words of John the Baptist in the Book of Saint John before but his words to me is what his life was about. (John 3:27-30 John answered and said, “No one can receive anything except what has been given him from heaven. You yourselves can testify that I said [that] I am not the Messiah, but that I was sent before him. The one who has the bride is the bridegroom; the best man, who stands and listens to him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. So, this joy of mine has been made complete. He must increase; I must decrease.”
The message I get from today’s scripture is that I must become more holy by sinning less and have Jesus increase in my life. Tall order. Jesus never said it would be easy or not come with difficulties. We are all in the same boat. We have to endure together.
God Love You Always
Bob Burford
PS: Please Pray for the soul of our beloved Pontiff, Pope Francis and for his successor, Pope Leo. Please Pray for Cancer victims and their caregivers. Pray for the conversion of Russia and the salvation of the Ukrainian and Russian people and their soldiers. Pray for the Holy Land. Pray for peace! The impossible could and can happen. Never deny God.
