November 3, 2011

Reflection (The readings are below, for your reference)

Today’s reading speaks to me about how toxic fear can be. Herod Antipas marries his first wife for political advancement, then he divorces her to marry his brother’s wife. His fear first stops him from killing John the Baptizer, and later induces him to, rather than back off of a drunken promise. Even after John’s execution, Herod continues in fear redirected towards Jesus. It’s interesting that Herod Antipas makes every single mistake that a prior Matthew gospel warns against (Matthew 5:21-48) in the Sermon on the Mount.

Good and gracious God, when I fear, when I fail, when I fall, open my eyes to see your face, to follow you, to seek the true refuge of of forgiveness rather than the false refuge of outrage.

Namaste

The Readings

Ezra 7:11-26 (NRSV)

Revelation 14:1-13 (NRSV)

Matthew 14:1-12 (NRSV)

At that time Herod the ruler heard reports about Jesus; and he said to his servants, "This is John the Baptist; he has been raised from the dead, and for this reason these powers are at work in him."  For Herod had arrested John, bound him, and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, because John had been telling him, "It is not lawful for you to have her."  Though Herod wanted to put him to death, he feared the crowd, because they regarded him as a prophet.  But when Herod's birthday came, the daughter of Herodias danced before the company, and she pleased Herod so much that he promised on oath to grant her whatever she might ask.  Prompted by her mother, she said, "Give me the head of John the Baptist here on a platter."  The king was grieved, yet out of regard for his oaths and for the guests, he commanded it to be given; he sent and had John beheaded in the prison.  The head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, who brought it to her mother.  His disciples came and took the body and buried it; then they went and told Jesus.