Memorial of the Passion of Saint John the Baptist
Mark 6: 17-29
The Voice They Could Not Silence

The Gospel recounts a drama of stark contrasts: the bleak fortress of Machaerus, the glitter of Herod’s banquet, and the dark dungeon where John the Baptist awaited his fate.

Herod is a portrait of human contradiction. He feared John yet was fascinated by him. He enjoyed hearing the truth, yet lacked the courage to follow it. This is a condition of the human heart—we can be drawn to holiness while clinging to sin. Like Herod, we may admire virtue in others but hesitate to let it change us.

Herod’s downfall came through three traps: impulse, self-indulgence, and fear of human opinion. In a moment of drunken boasting, he made a reckless promise to Salome. Then, unwilling to lose face before his guests, he chose murder over mercy. How often do we sacrifice integrity because we dread the laughter, criticism, or rejection of others?

Herodias, consumed by resentment, reveals another danger: the hardened heart that refuses correction. John’s rebuke was not spite but truth spoken for her salvation. Yet she sought not repentance, but revenge. Barclay reminds us that while we may silence the voice of conscience, we cannot silence God Himself.

John the Baptist stands as a model of steadfast courage. Though chained in darkness, he refused to betray the truth. He reminds us that fidelity to God often demands a cost—but that cost is never greater than the reward of eternal life.

On this feast, the Church calls us to examine our own hearts: Do we let the Gospel unsettle us, or do we evade it? Do we live for the approval of others, or for the approval of God? When faced with the choice, may we stand with John, choosing truth over comfort, and Christ over compromise.

© Claretian Publications, Hong Kong, China
Cum Approbatione Ecclesiastica 2025