Friday of the Fourth Week in Ordinary Time
(Hebrews 13:1-8; Mark 6:14-29)
Today’s gospel passage raises the question behind all
gospels: Who is Jesus? According to the
passage, because of his marvelous works, some say he is Elijah. The prophet Elijah was taken up to heaven
without dying and was expected to return.
Others say that Jesus is a new, extraordinary prophet. Most curious is the response given to the
question: Jesus is John the Baptist risen from the dead.
As Mark tells the story, Herod reluctantly had John
beheaded. It may be surmised that Herod’s
guilt elicits fear that the ever-just John has risen from the dead to make
retribution. He internally links Jesus’ “mighty powers” with his own fear of
reprisal. Mark’s gospel doesn’t say it, but Luke’s relates that someone told
Jesus that Herod was out to kill him.
Herod is correct in thinking that Jesus might pursue
him. But Jesus would do so not for
revenge but because he was born to call sinners to repentance. Not out of spite but from love Jesus would
bother himself with Herod as he does with us.
