Homily: August 29, 2025, Memorial of the Passion of Saint John the Baptist (Head of Baptist)

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 “What shall I ask for?” She replied, “The head of John the Baptist.”

What a tragic and evil request. Salome could have asked for half of Herod’s kingdom, wealth, or anything of significant material value. Instead, she asked for the lifeless head of John the Baptist, under the command of her vengeful mother, Herodias.

And what did both women gain from it? What worth is there in the head of a holy prophet? Herodias might think that she had removed an obstacle in her life, but in truth, she gained nothing but blood on her hands and the weight of murder for the rest of her life.

We, too, have seen people who make poor decisions in life, based on anger, arrogance, jealousy, greed, lust, vengeance. All these deadly sins blind us from reality. They not only make us deepen our sinfulness, but they also lead us to self-condemnation. Every mortal sin is the same. When we commit these sins, we trade eternal joy for a passing, temporary pleasure.

Herodias must have felt momentary satisfaction in silencing her opponent, but for the rest of her life she carried the spiritual burden of sin, guilty of evil murder. Tradition says that both Herod and Herodias were banished to Gaul (modern-day France) by the emperor Caligula, where they died in exile. 

Early Christian writers recount that Salome herself died a tragic death, falling through ice and being decapitated in a way that mirrored the fate which she chose for John the Baptist.

The last prophet of God, John the Baptist, was killed at the malicious request of a vengeful woman, it was outright murder. God is the Author and Lord of life. No one has the right to take an innocent life.

Today we pray especially for our world to respect the gift of life from God, given with love, created through His very own breath. Every life, from the moment of conception right through unto death, is God’s gift.

We want to pray together for an end to abortion - both surgical and chemical. The blood of the innocent cries out to God for justice and mercy.

May we always choose life. May we reject sin and poor decisions that seek to hide the sin, which ultimately lead to spiritual destruction.

Let us embrace the Gospel, respect life and appreciate the gift and the Giver, may these wise decisions lead us to true happiness, real freedom and eternal joy.

Amen.


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