Today the gospel reading (Mark 6:14-29) focuses our attention on John the Baptist and specifically on his death. Reflecting on the reading, I asked myself, what does John the Baptist say to me? More than once, reading about John, I have been struck by the fact that his must have been a lousy life.
He was born when his mother and father were already old. It must have been difficult for them to take care of a baby and to raise a son. His father Zechariah had his duties as a priest of the temple to perform. These duties probably took him away from his wife and son during the weeks that he was on duty. John and Jesus could not have seen each other often as children since John lived in Judea and Jesus in Galilee. All of these factors probably contributed to a less-than-ideal childhood.
Both of John’s parents apparently died before he reached adulthood. When he did become an adult, he went out to the desert of Judea west of the river Jordan and lived by himself as a hermit for some years. His diet consisted of bugs and wild honey, and he did not drink wine or strong spirits. He clothed himself in camel hair garments and a leather belt, which must have been very uncomfortable in the desert heat. Throughout his life John seems to have always been a loner. Later when he began to baptize people in the Jordan, his message was not always a welcome one to his listeners. John called the people to task for their sins and urged them to repent. Many of those who became his disciples soon left him to follow Jesus. While he was still a young man, he ran afoul of King Herod when he reproached the king for marrying his brother’s wife. Imprisoned, he was put to death by beheading to placate the hatred of Herod’s wife Herodias. At the time of his death, John was probably not much older than 30.
From a human standpoint, John’s was not a great life. He does not appear to have had the happiness and comfort that most of us crave in our lives. And yet John played a major role in the greatest story ever told: the story of our salvation. Almighty God chose John to be the herald of Jesus Christ, our savior. From the beginning of his life until his death, John was a willing instrument in God’s plan for the salvation of the world. Throughout his life John faithfully and steadfastly adhered to God’s will for him. His life may not have been glamorous or exciting, but John did not care about that. He was content to do the will of God for him, whatever it might be. When John’s life here on earth came to an end, I am sure he had earned a great reward in heaven. At the hour of his death God probably greeted John with the words we all long to hear: “Well done, good and faithful servant.” I think the lesson for all of us in the life of John the Baptist is that the events of his life were not as important as the motivation which guided him throughout his life. Today as we read about his heroic death, may we be inspired to work to imitate his fidelity to the will of God.
May God Bless You and Grant You His Peace!