The words of a popular song by Lucky Dube echo our celebration today, "If you stand for the truth, you will always stand alone." Speaking the truth to those in authority over us, to those who are more powerful than us, comes with a price.
It is challenging to gather the courage to correct your king, leader, or boss. In the beginning of last week, we heard Jesus slam the Scribes and Pharisees as hypocrites. The Scribes and Pharisees found it challenging to accept the truth; their immediate response was to cancel Jesus.
None of us likes being told the truth about errors, especially by those we consider to be below us. We are given two options; to silence the mouth that speaks the truth, or to swallow our pride and acknowledge and correct our errors. The first option is indeed the most popular and easier, but the second option is the only option available to true believers.
We will never know peace if we refuse to accept correction and fight the mouth that tells us the truth. No matter what we deny, truth never dies. Herod's marriage to his brother's wife was not legitimized by John the Baptist's death. It only added murder to their adultery.
Is there someone you hold malice towards, someone you often talk negatively about because they told you the truth? Consider leaving the person alone and entertaining the truth.
John Boswell was an 18th-century lawyer and biographer. His London Journal tells how he once sat in church enjoying the service. Then seconds later, he was planning a serious sin. We human beings are a bundle of contradictions at times.
Today's reading illustrates this. Mark tells us, "Herod liked to listen to John, even though he became greatly disturbed every time he heard him." The tug-of-war within our hearts is evidence that there's a bit of the saint and a bit of the sinner in all of us. We have, as it were, one foot in heaven and one foot on earth.
The words of Lucky Dube, the musician with which we began this reflection, are not true. You will never be alone if you stand for the truth; God will stand for you. Faith is all it takes to believe God's words to Jeremiah. "They will fight against you, but I am with you to deliver you."
What are you afraid of? Do not keep quiet today lest you go to hell for partaking in that sin! The Lord always fights for us, even if that means giving us direct access to heaven or sometimes the fastest route to heaven.
Lord Jesus, increase my courage. St. John the Baptist, pray for us.
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