05/08/2023

The way of life ordered for the Israelites in today's First Reading tells us that God has to be the centre of our lives even to the extent described for the Jubilee. We are not to seek profit in business dealings with our fellow man. The value of our neighbour's worldly goods is to be determined by an objective standard that is determined by God's words to Moses. The Jubilee Year is to be the Sabbath of Years.

 I am not an Old Testament Scholar but I cannot remember the "Jubilee Year" as playing a huge part in the History of Israel, its ups and downs as recorded in the Old Testament.

The beheading of St John the Baptist, however, is grippingly dramatic and contains all the elements that enthral us even today in books, plays and films. It is the Drama that in various guises is being played out to captivated audiences of millions this moment as I read and write. 

It has the man powerful in position, but still a slave to his passions. There is a beautiful voluptuous girl and her conniving mother now the spouse of the King. The fearless integrity of one man among his subjects condemns the immorality of the life lead by his ruler and his spouse. This worries the wife/mother who knowing the weakness of her husband's will; "he was fascinated by the words of the Baptist, even though he didn't understand them" plots to use the sexual attractiveness of her daughter to ruin John . She succeeds; but in the final scene the camera pans across the nearby lake and in soft focus lingers on another solitary figure sitting on the gunwale of a boat addressing a crowd of listeners.

Back to reality of the Gospel. The deciding factor in the all powerful ruler's decision, however, was not a consuming lust for the girl but his concern for the maintaining of his reputation as the man of power who could be trusted to act on his word especially that sworn in public. That situation  of the proud man of power who could not bear to show to his people the reality of his human weakness is also killing thousands in bloody conflicts all over the world today.

Dear Lord you have told me your love for your Church can still be seen in the hearts of those who have been devoted to the care of the weak and poor throughout the world. How can I atone not only for my personally sinful life but also for the neglect of the least of the poor ones, the love of whom you have promised is the true love of you. May the prayers of Mary and all the Saints help me to  forgo comparisons of merit and devote my life to nothing but you and your word . Let the institution learn as I am doing that God, the Mystical Body of Christ  is not a hierarchical organisation but is the Love that knows us as individuals who all care for each other.