When confronted with the adulterous relationship of Herod Antipas and Herodias, St. John the Baptist fearlessly and clearly stated, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” This greatly angered Herodias, who then sought an opportunity to kill both him and his condemning words. Today, the Church remembers the moment she got her chance when she ordered the beheading of St. John the Baptist.
St. John the Baptist always seems a bit wild. From his camel hair clothing to his diet of locusts and honey, he sets himself apart from the mainstream community. In being so different, one could wonder if his own actions were a bit reckless? Should he have been more diplomatic, perhaps taking a gentler approach to try to coax Herod Antipas and Herodias into doing the right thing? Could he have avoided his early death and lived longer to do good for God?
Despite first appearances, there are several clues that direct our thoughts to believing that St. John the Baptist proceeded wisely and in true Christian charity. These clues can be taken from the organization of the Liturgical calendar, the lives of Herod Antipas and Herodias, and the words of our Lord Himself.
First, the Liturgical Calendar. Most Saints are honored on the day of their death…the day when they could no longer sin. Today’s Memorial of the Passion of Saint John the Baptist, however, is not the only or most important day we honor St. John the Baptist. Along with only Jesus and Mary, we also celebrate his birth with a solemnity, the highest Church feast. Why? The Church celebrates the birthdays of those who were born without original sin. Many Catholic theologians, including Saint Thomas Aquinas, believe that while John was conceived in Original sin, he was sanctified in the womb immediately after the Blessed Virgin Mary greeted his mother Elizabeth. “When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the infant leaped in her womb…” (Luke 1:41). This leap in the womb has been interpreted as John’s sanctification by grace before he was born. Being free from original sin would mean that St. John the Baptist’s intellect and will were not darkened or weakened. Reckless behavior, then, would not be possible. Instead, St. John the Baptist would have had extremely well thought out actions.
Second, Herod Antipas and Herodias. By all accounts, their own behavior shows that they were very much entrenched in sin. Herod Antipas, son of Herod the Great (who had all of the Holy Innocents killed), became ruler of Galilee for the Roman Empire. Herod had been wedded to someone, but he divorced her after becoming enamored of his brother’s wife, Herodias. Herodias herself had been married to Herod the Great’s son Philip, to whom she bore a daughter Salome. She divorced Philip to marry Herod Antipas. According to Lev 18:16 and 20:21, the Mosaic Law forbad the union of a man with his brother’s wife when the brother was still living. Since Philip was alive and well, the marriage between Antipas and Herodias was no marriage at all-it was adultery. As for Antipas, the Gospel today says that when he heard John the Baptist speak, he was very much perplexed, yet he liked to listen to him. Herodias, however, couldn’t stand to listen to the Baptist’s condemnation. Even after she had his head on a platter, St. Jerome relates that the furious Herodias made it her inhuman pastime to prick the sacred tongue with a bodkin (a hair pin). While their sin may have been too deep for conversion then, St John the Baptist’s straightforward approach clearly worked to bother their consciences as well as make their scandalous example impossible for others to blindly follow.
Lastly, Jesus’ words. Jesus himself said of John, “Amen, I say to you, among those born of women there has been none greater than John the Baptist” (Mt. 11:11). When Jesus speaks, we ought to listen. John is clearly being touted as a model for all of us. Later in the 1300’s, Jesus revealed to St. Bridget of Sweden the following, “Three Saints have been more pleasing to me than all others; Mary my mother, John the Baptist, and Mary Magdalene.” Again, Jesus includes John the Baptist on his short list of his favorite people. It would be hard to argue that someone who was reckless and imprudent would be recommended to us by our Lord.
St. John the Baptist was not like others, he was a bit “wild” in that he was free to be uniquely Himself. He didn’t use his tongue to flatter others so as to get their approval, his focus was on having God’s approval and on bringing others to Him. To that end, he is the perfect intercessor for us when we need help to find and change those areas of our life that need repentance. He may be blunt, but we can trust that he will guide us in true charity.
St. John the Baptist, pray for us.
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