Herod had a
convoluted character. This is manifested in his dealings with John the Baptist.
He feared John, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man and kept him in
custody. When he heard him speak, he was very much perplexed, yet he liked to
listen to him. When the daughter of Herodias asked for the head of John from
Herod, he was deeply distressed, but because of his oaths and the guests, he
did not wish to break his word to her. So he promptly dispatched an executioner
with orders to bring back the Baptist’s head. Herod knew what was morally right
from wrong. Thus, he would feel perplexed and deeply disturbed whenever
confronted by truths about his life and situations where he had to choose
between the good and the bad. Despite his knowledge of the truth, Herod would
choose to do what is wrong: to execute John the Baptist. He did so, to save his
face before his guests.
Herod missed the opportunity to embrace the truth in life that could have saved him from becoming a murderer. If ever we
are to please anyone in our life, it is God alone more than anyone else. There
lies the difference between Herod and John the Baptist. They both know the
truth and the preeminence of God over anyone and anything else. John, unlike
Herod, chose to preach and serve the Truth even if it meant laying down his
life for God. He chose to be faithful to God though he may lose his face before
man; though he may lose his very life. He stood by the truth God revealed to
him.
We often find
ourselves in the same situation where Herod and John found themselves. We too
come to know about the truths in our life; what is right and wrong. Do we choose
to please the Lord or the people around us? Do we rather save our faces and
lives or willfully offer them in the service of the Truth?
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