The high dignity of the Apostles, and their successors and assistants, consists in this, that they are the true representatives of Christ. He who receives them, receives our Lord; he who listens to them, listens to Him; he who ministers to them, ministers to Him.
Application. Have you ever told lies? or neglected your prayers out of human respect? You ask far too often what such and such people will think, and too little what Almighty God will think. Let your thoughts dwell on hell; and pray for the gift of holy fear.
Pray often, and especially at Mass, for the successors of the Apostles, the Pope and the bishops.
Chapter XXXII.
JOHN THE BAPTIST IS PUT TO DEATH.
[Mat. 14, 1 — 12. Mark 6, 14—29. Luke 9, 7 — 9.]
HERODIAS was filled with hatred [1] of John the Baptist, and sought to destroy him. But Herod esteemed John, and for a time obeyed him in many things. Moreover Herod was still afraid of the people, who considered John a great prophet.
Now Herod, on his birthday, gave a banquet[2] to the princes[3] and nobles of his kingdom. And the daughter of Herodias, by her former husband, coming in, danced before the guests, and Herod was pleased [4]; whereupon he promised, with an oath, to give* her whatsoever she would ask of him, even if it were the half of his kingdom.
But she, being instructed beforehand by her mother, said: “Give me here in a dish[5] the head of John the Baptist.” The
- ↑ With haired. The evangelist St. Mark (6, 20) says that Herod heard John willingly, and asked his advice and followed it. This made Herodias fear that, if John preached to him any more, the weak king might end by putting her away from him. She, therefore, knew no rest as long as John was alive.
- ↑ A banquet. In the castle of Machaerus, where John was imprisoned.
- ↑ Princes. The chief men about the court of Galilee, who, however, were all Jews.
- ↑ Was pleased. Not only Herod, but also his guests (Mark 6, 2i) were pleased by the unseemly dancing and bewitching appearance of the girl, who but too closely resembled her wicked mother.
- ↑ In a dish. The heartless creature, far from being horrified at her mother’s request, hastened, without even hesitating, to ask for what she wanted. She demanded that the holy prophet’s head should be given to her “forthwith”, because she feared that, as soon as he was sober, Herod would refuse her request. Tradition says that Herodias treated the Saint's head with contumely, and pierced his tongue with needles.
