August 29: Martyrdom of Saint John the Baptist / El Martirio de San Juan Bautista

Today the Church recalls the martyrdom of St. John the Baptist (Mark 6, 17-29). The Baptist was in prison and was executed by King Herod. Some have read the story leading up to his death and sought to place blame on Herodius or her daughter, conspiring to box the king into a corner. But it has been suggested that the real reason for Herod’s horrific act is rather found in this line in the Gospel: “Herod feared John, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man, and kept him in custody.”

He feared St. John. Why does this mighty king fear this prophet from the desert who has no money and no political power? “Because he is righteous and holy.” A consistent pattern in the Bible is that those who stand for justice and for true holiness are feared by those in authority, by those with the most to lose in terms of personal power and influence.

How often is it that God chooses those we don’t expect to be sources of courage and wisdom? How often does God choose people who we overlook to do what is right? After all, God isn’t on “both sides” – God is exclusively on the side of what is right and just. God consistently reduces to nothing those who think they are the greatest – even frightened kings like Herod. Genuine Christians, meanwhile, know that only God is great.

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La Iglesia celebra hoy el día festivo del martirio de San Juan Bautista. Como testigo de integridad y de honesta verdad, él perdió su vida frente a la astucia, el rencor, y la violencia.  Pero él tenía que hablar, arrostrando las consecuencias. La palabra de Dios no puede amordazarse. ¿Tiene la Iglesia – y nosotros –  este valor hoy?

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Hace poco, el Papa León exhortaba a los jóvenes a no conformarse con menos que la santidad. No para ser colocados en una hornacina, ciertamente, sino más bien para seguir una llamada de Dios que no admite negociaciones ni regateos. San Juan Bautista era así: irreductible. Costará lo que costara (y a él le costó la vida) proclamaría lo que era verdad. Él nos enseña que la santidad diaria, la callada y desapercibida, se requiere todos los días y a todas horas. Y pide una decisión constante de cumplir la voluntad de Dios.