HOMILY OF FRIDAY OF THE TWENTHY-FIRST WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR C.
29TH AUGUST, 2025.
BY REV FR. ADOLE ACHILLEUS ILE LAMPEZ CSSp.
1st reading : Jeremiah 1:17-19
Psalm 70:1-6,15,17
Gospel : Mark 6:17-29
Today, we celebrate the memorial of the beheading of John the Baptist. And in the gospel of we heard the detail of how this took place.
We may be expecting to hear about how courageous John the Baptist was to speak the truth to the king, which eventually led to his death. But I want us to look at a hidden message in this scripture, that is, the influence and regrets that come with drunkeness.
As we see in the gospel, John the Baptist spoke against Herod and Herodias, who was the wife of Herod’s brother- Philip. “For John had told Herod, ‘It is against the law for you to have your brother’s wife.’ As for Herodias, she was furious with him and wanted to kill him; but she was not able to, because Herod was afraid of John, knowing him to be a good and holy man, and gave him his protection….” So the woman seeked ways to destroy John the Baptist until she finally got it on the birthday of Herod.
“…When the daughter of this same Herodias came in and danced, she delighted Herod and his guests; so the king said to the girl, ‘Ask me anything you like and I will give it you.’ And he swore her an oath, ‘I will give you anything you ask, even half my kingdom….”
What king in this world will swear an oath to give out half of his kingdom to a girl just because she danced well? I just imagine how good the dance was to ignite the king into making such a promise.
Again, does this king have no advisers or counsellors who would have advised him on a better gift than a promise of half of his kingdom?
Why was everyone close to the king when he made this promise at ease and never gave counsel?
Only one thing is clear to me from this narrative, that is, the king and his guests were all drunk and would not take counsel. Remember, it was a banquet of a king. This implied an unending supply of food and wine.
Nevertheless, something happened that brought back the king from his slumber. That is, the request for the head of John the Baptist.
After talking with her mother, the girl said to the king, “I want you to give me John the Baptist’s head, here and now, on a dish.’ The king was deeply distressed, but, thinking of the oaths he had sworn and of his guests, he was reluctant to break his word to her. So the king at once sent one of the bodyguards with orders to bring John’s head….”
This is why we must beware of the influence of drunkeness and the regrets that come with it. The king did not realise the weight of the promise he made because he was drunk, but the demand of the girl was a heavy blow enough to bring him back to his senses, making him distressed though the damage has been done already.
Like this king, many in our society have ended up in one problem or the other just because of drunkeness, and many are on long-lasting regrets from actions they carried out while drunk. Therefore, we must learn not to repeat the mistakes of the past. We must be filled with the Holy Spirit and not the spirit of drunkeness.
Peace be with you
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