Dying for truth

Mark 6 : 17 - 29

Martyrdom of John the Baptist

Today the church remembers the death of John the Baptist at the hands of Herod. The dynamics of the story is played out in many similar ways even in our time and place. Herod was torn between his conscience and the other 'voice' (that of the Evil One). His inner voice told him that John was right, that John was a 'righteous and holy man'. But Herod's own lust and desires, encouraged by the 'Evil spirit' (a term used in Ignatian spirituality to describe the Enemy) led him to act against his truer inner beliefs, so he imprisoned John, just to 'silence' him and with that, the voice of Herod's own conscience.

We are bombarded by many voices at every moment. Some of them we can recognize easily and reject, not acting according to those voices that are clearly against the truth of God. But there are times when we are pulled by our strong desires. It may not only be lust, as in the case of Herod. The Evil spirit knows where our own weak point lies. He attacks where the defences are down. It becomes easy to rationalize things and hide from the inner voice of the Holy Spirit. We find a way to silence the voice of truth.

John the Baptist died for his convictions. He is the one who pointed the way to the Messiah. Strengthened by God (perhaps his desert life had something to do with building spiritual muscles, as we know it did for the Desert Fathers and Mothers!) he was committed to the truth, not fearing for his status or life. People who act with such courage are not going to win popularity polls in this world.

We may not be called to speak God's truth to kings and rulers, but we can witness firmly to it wherever we find injustice, oppression, marginalization, any time we are convicted that the Spirit is being quenched in the world around us.