+ The death of John the Baptist was significant in that it marks the beginning of the end of Jesus' preparation period for his own public life. Shortly after he hears of the news of his cousin's death he would go into the desert for his period of final preparation – where he would contend with the devil on three different occasions to clarify his own mission in life.
The death of John by martyrdom was very significant as he stood up for the foundational values and truths of the Jewish religion upon which the Christian tradition was built: he protested the incest and adulterous nature of Herod Antipas' marriage to his niece and sister-in-law, Herodias. When the opportunity for misguided "revenge" presented itself in a night of drunken revelry, John lost his life but glorified God in doing so. Jesus would say that there was no one (other than himself and his own mother) greater than the John who baptized him in the River Jordan and ushered in the reign of God in a direct and personal way!
The first reading today tells how God told Jeremiah to stand up and tell the stubborn people of Israel, by words and deeds, all that I command you – and I will be with you to deliver you, no matter what happens or how it is carried out.
St. John the Baptist – you, who were persecuted for the sake of right-living, and felt the Lord's presence to help you – pray for us that we may stand up for truth, right, goodness and values based on every word and deed that your cousin Jesus gave to us and continues to give to us through his Church.
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