Memorial of the Passion of St. John the Baptist
Today we commemorate the Passion of St. John the Baptist. He is the antithesis to the Scribes and Pharisees we have been reading about this week. They observe customs and religious practices to be seen and for prestige, and they are not interiorly devoted to God. Whereas St. John the Baptist is ever faithful to his calling of bringing the people of God to repentance and the truth. Even when he is captured and imprisoned he continues to be faithful to the truth.
We too are called to be like St. John the Baptist and remain faithful to the truth we have received. We must be courageous in our devotion and love for God’s truth revealed to us through by his Son. We must resist the urge to be like Herod who saw righteousness and holiness but was perplexed. He was drawn to listen to the truth but refused to be converted by it. We must take the truth we receive and allow the Grace of the Holy Spirit to covert our souls to a deeper, stronger, and more courageous faith. In doing this, we will be made by God our Father, “firm to the end, irreproachable on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, and by him you were called to fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord” (1 Cor. 1: 8-9).
Reflection by Br. Placid Dale, OSB
Posted in Articles for Ordinary Time, Daily Reflections