TESTIMONY TO THE TRUTH! ~ CookingFood.Org

“HONEY FROM THE ROCK”

Daily Reflections

Tuesday, 29^th August 2017,

Twenty First Week in Ordinary Time

Memorial of the Passion of St John the Baptist

Jer 1:17-19;

Ps 72: 1-6, 15-17;

Mk 6:17-29

TESTIMONY TO THE TRUTH!

St John's martyrdom reminds us about our vocation as Christians, to stand for the truth. John suffered imprisonment and chains as he witnessed to our Redeemer. His persecutors, king Herod and Herodias had demanded not that he should deny Christ, but only that he should keep silent about the truth. But he couldn't remain silent. As a result he had to give his head to the executioner. He died for truth, he died for Christ. Does Christ not say: "I am the truth"! Therefore, because John shed his blood for the truth, he surely died for Christ.

The beheading of John the Baptist, reveals, above all, the mystery of evil in our world and God’s permissive will in allowing evil, at times, to flourish. Jesus, said that there was no one born of woman greater than John the Baptist. And, yet, He allowed John to suffer this great injustice. God clearly has allowed those whom He loves to suffer greatly throughout history. What does this tell us? The fact of the matter is that suffering is not a sign of the disfavor of God. If you suffer and are given no relief by God it is not because God has abandoned you. It is not that He does not love you. In fact, the opposite is most likely true.

John the Baptist’s suffering is, in fact, the greatest sermon he could have preached. It’s a witness to his unwavering love of God and his wholehearted commitment to the will of God. The “sermon” of John’s passion is powerful because he chose to stay faithful to our Lord despite the persecution he endured. And, from God’s perspective, John’s fidelity is infinitely more valuable than his continued physical life or the physical sufferings he endured.

Reflect, today, upon your own life. At times we carry some heavy cross and beg our Lord to take it from us. Instead, God tells us that His grace is sufficient and that He wishes to use our sufferings as a testimony of our fidelity. So, the Father’s response to Jesus, His response to John and His response to us is a call to enter into the mystery of our sufferings in this life with faith, hope, confidence and fidelity. Never let the hardships of life deter you from your fidelity toward the will of God.

Prayer: Lord, may I have the strength of Your Son and the strength of St. John the Baptist as I carry my own crosses in life. May I remain strong in faith and filled with hope as I hear You calling me to embrace my cross. Jesus, I trust in You. Amen.