Saturday of the Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 406
Reading 1
Jeremiah 26:11-16, 24
The priests and prophets said to the princes and to all the people,
“This man deserves death;
he has prophesied against this city,
as you have heard with your own ears.”
Jeremiah gave this answer to the princes and all the people:
“It was the LORD who sent me to prophesy against this house and city
all that you have heard.
Now, therefore, reform your ways and your deeds;
listen to the voice of the LORD your God,
so that the LORD will repent of the evil with which he threatens you.
As for me, I am in your hands;
do with me what you think good and right.
But mark well: if you put me to death,
it is innocent blood you bring on yourselves,
on this city and its citizens.
For in truth it was the LORD who sent me to you,
to speak all these things for you to hear.”
Thereupon the princes and all the people
said to the priests and the prophets,
“This man does not deserve death;
it is in the name of the LORD, our God, that he speaks to us.”
So Ahikam, son of Shaphan, protected Jeremiah,
so that he was not handed over to the people to be put to death.
Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 69:15-16, 30-31, 33-34
R.(14c) Lord, in your great love, answer me.
Rescue me out of the mire; may I not sink!
may I be rescued from my foes,
and from the watery depths.
Let not the flood-waters overwhelm me,
nor the abyss swallow me up,
nor the pit close its mouth over me.
R. Lord, in your great love, answer me.
But I am afflicted and in pain;
let your saving help, O God, protect me.
I will praise the name of God in song,
and I will glorify him with thanksgiving.
R. Lord, in your great love, answer me.
“See, you lowly ones, and be glad;
you who seek God, may your hearts revive!
For the LORD hears the poor,
and his own who are in bonds he spurns not.”
R. Lord, in your great love, answer me.
Alleluia
Matthew 5:10
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness
for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel
Matthew 14:1-12
Herod the tetrarch heard of the reputation of Jesus
and said to his servants, “This man is John the Baptist.
He has been raised from the dead;
that is why mighty powers are at work in him.”
Now Herod had arrested John, bound him, and put him in prison
on account of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip,
for John had said to him,
“It is not lawful for you to have her.”
Although he wanted to kill him, he feared the people,
for they regarded him as a prophet.
But at a birthday celebration for Herod,
the daughter of Herodias performed a dance before the guests
and delighted Herod so much
that he swore to give her whatever she might ask for.
Prompted by her mother, she said,
“Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist.”
The king was distressed,
but because of his oaths and the guests who were present,
he ordered that it be given, and he had John beheaded in the prison.
His head was brought in on a platter and given to the girl,
who took it to her mother.
His disciples came and took away the corpse
and buried him; and they went and told Jesus.
Reflection 1
Catholic Daily Reflections
Overcoming Regret
Herod the tetrarch heard of the reputation of Jesus and said to his servants, “This man is John the Baptist. He has been raised from the dead; that is why mighty powers are at work in him.” Matthew 14:1–2
Herod the tetrarch was one of three brothers and a sister who became 1st-century rulers to succeed their father, Herod the Great, when he died in 4 B.C. Herod governed much of the territory west of the Sea of Galilee, which was the territory in which Jesus spent most of His time during His public ministry. He also ruled a territory just east of the Dead Sea, which is where he had imprisoned and ultimately killed John the Baptist. Herod was known for being a very busy builder and is prominently known for his role in the deaths of Saint John the Baptist and Jesus.
Recall that Herod had taken his brother’s wife, Herodias, as his own, and John the Baptist publicly opposed this. For that reason, Herod had John arrested and ultimately beheaded at the request of Herodias, who took the Baptist’s criticism very personally. Herod, on the other hand, had a strange sort of admiration for the Baptist.
The Gospel passage quoted above reveals a somewhat unusual statement by Herod. After he had killed Saint John the Baptist, he heard about the reputation of Jesus Who was travelling throughout Herod’s territory preaching and performing many mighty deeds. Word spread fast about Jesus and quickly reached even the ears of Herod. So why did Herod strangely think that Jesus must have been John the Baptist raised from the dead? Though we do not know for certain, we certainly can speculate.
In the version of this story found in the Gospel of Mark, we read, “Herod feared John, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man, and kept him in custody. When he heard him speak he was very much perplexed, yet he liked to listen to him” (Mark 6:20). Herod may have been a man who had a spark of faith but was ultimately ruled by his passions and desire for power. Perhaps that is why he initially kept John the Baptist alive in his prison. It also appears that Herod had some form of either regret or fear over his beheading of John. And it is most likely for this reason that Herod immediately thought of John when he initially heard of Jesus and the “mighty powers” that were at work within Him.
Regret, fear and guilt are common effects of a conscience that is in conflict. Herod the tetrarch is a good example of what happens when we do not resolve that conflict within ourselves. The only way to resolve the interior confusion of a conflicted conscience is to humbly submit to the truth. Imagine if Herod would have repented. Imagine if he would have sought out Jesus, confessed his sins, and begged for forgiveness. What a glorious story that would have been. Instead, we have the witness of a man who has gone astray and remained obstinate in his sin.
Reflect, today, upon this unholy witness of Herod. God can use all things for His glory, and He can even use the example of Herod to reveal to ourselves any similar tendency. Do you struggle with regret, fear and guilt? Does this cause conflict within you? The good news is that this conflict is easily resolved by a humble heart that seeks the truth. Seek the truth by admitting any long-lasting sin you need to resolve and permit the mercy of God to enter in so as to set you free.
Reflection 2
One Bread, One Body
CORRECT ME IF I’M WRONG
“Recall that Herod had had John arrested, put in chains, and imprisoned on account of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip. That was because John had told him, ‘It is not right for you to live with her.’ ” —Matthew 14:3-4
Jesus no longer walks the face of the earth. Now we have the Paraclete, the Holy Spirit, sent by God the Father and the Son (Jn 16:7). The Spirit proves us wrong about sin (Jn 16:8). For example, the Spirit worked through St. John the Baptist to convict Herod and Herodias of their sin of adultery. Sadly, they did not accept the Spirit’s correction, murdered John, and turned their backs on the Lord’s prophetic message. The chosen people of Jeremiah’s time likewise refused God’s correction through prophet after prophet (see e.g. Jer 26:11), and their idolatry eventually destroyed their nation and resulted in being exiled into Babylon.
Occasionally, someone accepts the Holy Spirit’s precious correction, which leads them to eternal life and protects them from damnation. For example, on one occasion the princes and the people who heard the prophetic warnings from Jeremiah said: “This man does not deserve death; it is in the name of the Lord, our God, that he speaks to us” (Jer 26:16). Will you repeatedly accept the Holy Spirit’s corrections so as to be made holy by the Spirit of holiness? If today you hear His voice, harden not your hearts (see Ps 95:7-8).
Prayer: Father, burn away sin from my life no matter what it takes.
Promise: “The Lord hears the poor, and His own who are in bonds He spurns not.” —Ps 69:34
Praise: Alice has built her life around Jesus and has received Him daily in the Eucharist for forty years.
Reflection 3
Shared from God's Word
Today’s Gospel Reading narrates the beheading of John the Baptist, who was put in prison for the sake of Herodias. John’s beheading disturbs us. He becomes a victim of the situation which he himself created. Though the messenger is killed the message of the Kingdom becomes more alive as Jesus continues His mission. Prophet Jeremiah who was in the hands of his haters, and who was about to be put to death is saved on account of his words which he spoke in the name of the Lord, and because of Ahikam the son of Shaphan. When we feel the absence of God in our lives on account of opposition, or loss or death of our dear ones, how do we respond?
Prayers
My merciful Jesus, You desire that all people experience freedom from the sins of the past. You desire to penetrate our hearts and to bring resolution and peace. Please help me to open my mind and heart to You in the areas that still cause pain and regret, and help me to be set free by Your infinite mercy. Jesus, I trust in You.
Heavenly Father, form in me the likeness of your Son Jesus that I may imitate him in word and deed. Help me to live the gospel faithfully and give me the strength and courage I need to not shrink back in the face of hardship and temptation.
Daily Reflections on Divine Mercy
Reflection 215: The Freedom to Choose
In one sense we can say that God imposes upon us an obligation to turn to Him with our whole being and receive His Mercy. He also imposes upon us the obligation to spread His Mercy to others. But we must understand that this is no ordinary “obligation.” It’s an obligation of love. This means that the “imposition” of this obligation is no imposition at all. It is something that God gives us complete freedom to choose or reject. There are no strings attached, no forms of force; rather, we are left in complete freedom to choose or not to choose to accept and bestow the Mercy of God. This freedom is essential to our lives and is essential to the gift of God’s Mercy. Only by giving us this freedom can we fully cooperate with this gift because Mercy must be freely given and freely received. If it is not, then it is not Mercy. Be grateful for the freedom the Lord has given you and use it to make a glorious choice (See Diary #1115).
Reflect, today, upon these two gifts God has given you. First, reflect upon the gift of freedom. In having free will, you are able to make your own choices in life. As a result, you also either reap the blessings of the choices you make, or suffer the consequences. Reflect, also, upon the fact that you are invited by God to accept and distribute His abundant gift of Mercy. By freely choosing this gift, you invite the God of the Universe to descend from His Throne of Grace and embrace you with an embrace of pure love, enabling you to offer that embrace to others.
Lord, I give You my life and freely choose to receive all the Mercy of Your most Sacred Heart. Help me to be open to all that You wish to bestow, and help me to be open to bestow all that You wish to offer others. I thank You, Lord, for these glorious gifts of freedom and Mercy and I choose Your Mercy with all my heart. Jesus, I trust in You.
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