(Reflection for the Memorial of the Beheading of St. John the Baptist, August 29)
Today we celebrate the heavenly
birth of St. John the Baptist, the forerunner of Jesus Christ. He bore witness
to Jesus with his life, as his head was carried on a platter. He was the Voice
that announced and pointed to the Messiah: “Behold, the Lamb of God that takes
away the sins of the world” (Jn 1:29). This proclamation he did, not just
verbally, but in the circumstances of his life. In the shadow of the events
surrounding the life and death of John, Jesus was being revealed.
From birth, John the Baptist was
already preparing the way for Jesus.
Elizabeth’s barrenness introduces Mary’s virginity. This is so because, though
barrenness and virginity are not exactly the same, both await fruitfulness. The
two parents had unique closeness to God. Zachariah and Elizabeth came from
priestly families and lived uprightly (cf. Lk 1:5-6). Joseph, of the house of
David (Lk 1: 27), was an upright man (Mt 1:19), as Mary was a woman of faith
(cf. Lk 1:45). Angel Gabriel’s encounter with Zachariah assumed a more perfect
status during his Annunciation to Mary. Then, the earth has yielded its fruit (Ps 67:6). Elizabeth’s humiliation
was taken away (cf. Lk 1: 25), as Joseph tried to save Mary from disgrace (Mt
1:19). From the womb, John was already announcing
in silence that Jesus is the Lord as he leapt for joy (Lk 1:44).
Silence speaks! In it the
Baptist’s life points to Jesus. His days in the desert would pave way for
Jesus’ entry into the desert, with fasting and prayer, accompanied with
temptation (Mk 1:12-13). His preaching and baptism announced the immediacy of
the coming Messiah (Mt 3:2). “...But someone is coming, who is more powerful than
me, and I am not fit to undo the strap of his sandals; he will baptise you with
the Holy Spirit and fire” (Lk 3:16). However, the Pharisees did not believe
John (Lk 7: 30, Mk 11:31) and they questioned him (Jn 1:24-25), thereby
mastering their deceitful act of questioning and setting trap for Jesus. Both
John and Jesus called them, “brood of vipers” (Mt 3: 7; 12:34), as if Jesus
used to listen to John before beginning His public ministry. The grudge of the Pharisees for the Baptist
lingered...
And Herodias embodied this
grudge. Then John was imprisoned for speaking the truth. By this he
foreshadowed the future: the Messiah would be exchanged for a prisoner and
questioned about the truth. Herod liked to listen to John, and he longed to see
Jesus (Lk 9:9). While he had no intention of killing John, he did not find
Jesus guilty. So, while Herod was perplexed at hearing the voice of John (Mk
6:20), Pilate was disturbed at the presence of Jesus (Jn 19: 12). But both
rulers had pride and prestige to protect, even at the cost of the innocent
ones.
The ‘silent’ voice of Herodias
echoed in the banquet hall (which points to the Praetorium): “I want you to
give me John the Baptist’s head, immediately, on a dish” (Mk 6:25). Such demand
would be heard again as they shouted, “Away with him, away with him, crucify
him” (Jn 19:15). Herod was perplexed as
Pilate tried to save Jesus, but another background voice of a wife echoed,
“Have nothing to do with that upright man...” (Mt 27:19). The vengeful grudge
of Herodias became more bloodthirsty in the Chief Priests and elders of the
people: “If you set him free you are no friend of Caesar’s” (Jn 19:12). Those
background voices signed the execution sheet of the innocent ones.
We almost excused Herod since the
King must abide by his oath, just as we get confused whom to blame for the
death of Jesus as Pilate washes off his hand. In all pride and excessive love
for power ruled. The Baptist points to Jesus as in his shadow we get deeper insight into some of Jesus’ proclamations: “Do
not swear at all...” (Mt 5:33-37), “Anyone who want to be great among you must
be your servant” (Mk 10:43), “You have heard how it was said to our ancestors, You shall not kill...but I say to you,
anyone who is angry with a brother will answer for it before the court” (Mt
5:21). How can the head of John the Baptist be part of the property of the King
to fulfil an oath?
The gang up never changed. From
Herodias through her daughter to Herod, so it played out from the Chief priests
through the Pharisees and scribes to Pilate. The order was given. As the
soldier matched to the guard room to fetch the head of John, so we hear their
footsteps in the Garden of Gethsemane...Herod’s daughter, consumed by the greed
of Judas, exchanged John the Baptist for a price! We are shocked at such
cruelty meted at the Baptist. His absence when judgement was passed on him
points to Jesus silence at his own judgement (Jn 19:9-10).
“When John’s disciples heard
about this, they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb” (Mk 6:29). After
the death of Jesus, “Joseph of Arimathaea, who was a disciple of Jesus—though a
secret one...asked Pilate to let him remove the body of Jesus” (Jn 19:38). In
the case of John, unnamed disciples took his body, in that of Jesus, a named
disciple took his body away. The body of John the Baptist foreshadows the Body
of Jesus. “This is my body which is given for you” (Lk 22:19). The secret
disciple will be revealed as he takes the Body of Christ. Discipleship is now
open to all peoples of every nationality. The Baptist’s dead body continues to
bear witness that part of the duty of the would be disciples of Jesus includes
taking responsibility for the Body of their Master. Every Christ’s faithful is
entrusted with the Body of Christ. And he must order his life accordingly so as
to contribute to the building up of His Body, the Church and the reign of His
Kingdom.
At the conclusion of his ministry,
John the Baptist testified, “My purpose of coming to baptise with water was so
that He might be revealed to Israel” (Jn 1:31). “I am not the Christ; I am the
one who has been sent to go in front of him...He must grow greater, I must grow less” (Jn 3:28-30).
John’s life and ministry were offloaded into that of Jesus Christ as two of his
disciples follow Jesus (Jn 1:37).
In Jesus, therefore, what appeared like a
shadow in John is realized and fulfilled. “Do not imagine that I have come to
abolish the Law or the Prophets. I have come not to abolish but to complete
them” (Mt 5:17). Now, joy dawns in our hearts as we come to realize that the
Baptist’s witness to Jesus has a deeper meaning. His life as the Forerunner,
above all, was a participation in that of Jesus. He could say with Paul, “I am
alive; yet it is no longer I, but Christ living in me” (Gal 2:20). In him also,
the eternal dimension of Jesus’ work of salvation shines out.
As we celebrate today, John the
Great, the Voice in the Wilderness, speaks to our hearts as we trace the shadow
of his life and ministry. Each of us should live as to reflect the image of
Christ. We are to foreshadow Jesus to our neighbours for he is close at hand,
and as we await His second coming. Our lives should always re-echo the words of
John the Baptist: “I have seen and I testify that he is the Chosen One of God”
(Jn 1:34).
Fr Jude C. Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
Memorial of the Beheading of John the
Baptist
St Mark Catholic Church,
Ohovbe, Benin City, Nigeria.
Monday, August 29, 2016.
