Welcome to our Worship on the sixth Sunday after Trinity Sunday. Our Parish Eucharist is at 10 am at St Thomas' Church, and today we're really pleased to have Bishop Mark Davies with us for our Parish Confirmation service.If you can't be with us in person, you'll find everything you need to worship from home here on this page.
Our first hymn this morning is "Breathe on me Breath of God"
Today's Gospel
Mark 6: v 14- 29 John the Baptist beheaded
King Herod heard of Jesus and his disciples, for Jesus’ name had become known. Some were saying, “John the baptizer has been raised from the dead; and for this reason, these powers are at work in him.” But others said, “It is Elijah.” And others said, “It is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old.” But when Herod heard of it, he said, “John, whom I beheaded, has been raised.”
For Herod himself had sent men who arrested John, bound him, and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, because Herod had married her. For John had been telling Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” And Herodias had a grudge against him, and wanted to kill him. But she could not, for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he protected him. When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed; and yet he liked to listen to him. But an opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his courtiers and officers and for the leaders of Galilee. When his daughter Herodias came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests; and the king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will give it.” And he solemnly swore to her, “Whatever you ask me, I will give you, even half of my kingdom.” She went out and said to her mother, “What should I ask for?” She replied, “The head of John the baptizer.” Immediately she rushed back to the king and requested, “I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.” The king was deeply grieved; yet out of regard for his oaths and for the guests, he did not want to refuse her. Immediately the king sent a soldier of the guard with orders to bring John’s head. He went and beheaded him in the prison, brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl. Then the girl gave it to her mother. When his disciples heard about it, they came and took his body, and laid it in a tomb.
Reflection
It's fair to say that this is not the cheeriest of readings in the Gospel. It is perhaps one of the most gruesome and vengeful stories you will come across in the New Testament. It is a tale about pride and conceit, about entrapment and slavery, lust and incest, injustice and guilt.
Up to this point is the bible we are familiar with the character of John the Baptist as the somewhat eccentric man who eats locusts and honey and wear clothes of rough camel hair. The messenger who was sent to pave the way for Jesus and bear witness to light. For all his eccentricity he was a charismatic preacher who proclaimed to all who would listen, the need for a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sin. Indeed, John in his own right had many followers and disciples. He was a good man and a righteous man and as we hear in this story, a man who was not afraid to criticise and call out wrong doing. A man who was not afraid to call a spade a spade as one might say in Yorkshire.
On the other hand, Herod Antipas was a man of selfishness, greed and most of all someone who yearned power. To be fair, he knew no different - being the son of Herod (the Great), who had ordered the death of all the babies under 2 years old in Bethlehem when he learned of the birth of Jesus. He had been brought up in a privileged position where power was everything, and abuse of power a way of suppressing dissent. For Herod it was a way of life to trample on anyone who got in his way or had something he wanted.
Throw into the pot a scheming, alluring and ambitious woman and you have all the ingredients for this plot of treachery. Herodias, had previously been married to Philip, Herod’s brother but Philip had been excluded from the family inheritance and became a commoner. Although they had a daughter (Salome), Herodias dumped Philip and instead set her sights on the powerful Herod and his wealth.
It was John the Baptist who made it clear that such an act was unlawful and immoral. He openly criticised both Herod and Herodias and as a result was imprisoned for his actions. Herodias despised John so much that she would have had him killed sooner if she could have. She was deeply afraid of John the Baptist and what he stood for. We hear that Herod, for all his wickedness, both feared and revered John. He knew he was Holy and righteous and liked to listen to John. For Herodias this meant there was always a risk that the more Herod listened to John, the more was the risk that he might repent and turn to Jesus. Turn over a new leaf. So, John had to be git rid of and we see that as soon as the opportunity arose, she did not hesitate to have John executed by the gory manner of beheading. John the one who spoke out about injustice was unjustly killed.
Despite Herod’s great power he had been trapped. Of course, he had been ben trapped by his scheming wife/sister-in-law, but moreover he was trapped by his vanity and pride. He knew he had been trapped and deep down did not want to kill this man; but instead of having the guts to admit that he might have let the occasion and the wine, get the better of him, he is more afraid that he will lose face.
Both Herod and Herodias were slaves to power and greed; but how often are we ourselves a slave to things in our life that we crave? More money, a better life for our children, more power at work or a promotion.
How, many times have we been in the same position? Have you ever done something that you regret afterwards? Something out of bravado or that you were foolishly dared into and didn’t feel you could back out of? A time when you let someone down because a better offer came up and you later regretted that you hurt their feelings or caused disappointment. Similarly, are there things you know you really should do that you keep putting off? Calling someone who is lonely, saying hello to the beggar outside the supermarket, or volunteering for something in the community or church, evangelising the message of God to the world? What is it that is making you resist God’s calling and what might you do about it today?
Our prayers
Almighty and all-seeing God,
Forgive me for my lapses of will power,
For my acts of selfishness and pride,
For the times when I put myself before others
When I judge instead of showing compassion
And when I not loved my neighbour
as you love me.
Loving Lord,
Open my ears to hear your calling,
Give me the confidence
to declare our faith and trust in you
help me to share your love
and compassion to others
I see every day.
Lead me not into temptation
but deliver me from evil.
Amen
Today's final hymn is "I, the Lord of Sea and Sky"
