By Eldho Augustine csc –
Readings: Heb 13: 1-8; Mk 6: 14-29
The first reading of the day reminds us that Jesus is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. Therefore, we shall rely on him always. He will be with us always. But we often fail to realize that. We are invited to love and care for our brothers and sisters always. We need to show hospitality to them.
In the gospel, John the Baptist had to face the death because he spoke the truth and stood firm for justice. Herod, who beheaded John the Baptist, symbolizes selfishness and fear of the truth. Truth is always bitter. Sometimes we may find ourselves in place of Herod with the same selfishness. Selfishness blinds us to the realities of the world.
Sometimes we conveniently become blind and deaf to the people around us and their problems. We are afraid to stand for the truth and justice. The entertainment news may replace the pain of farmers and the injustice faced by Fr. Stan swamy for more than hundred days may be easily forgotten too because we are afraid.
Today John the Baptist challenges us to stand for the truth and justice especially for the needs of our brothers and sisters. But this may cause us to pay with our own life and sacrifice our own comforts or even face the consequences like John the Baptist. The remedy for the problem or the consolation is seen in the first reading that “The Lord is my helper”.
It continues “I will not fear what man shall do to me”.