We’re reading the dramatic account of the Passion of John the Baptist today on his feast, (Mark 6:14-29), which Mark places in his gospel after Jesus is rejected in his hometown of Nazareth. (Mark 6:1-6) The people of Nazareth wash their hands of Jesus, but Herod Antipas, who’s got his ear to the ground and agents everywhere, keeps his eye on him. Jesus was someone to be reckoned with.

 Herod “had heard about Jesus, for his fame had become widespread and people were saying, ‘John the Baptist has been raised from the dead; that is why mighty powers are at work in him.’ Others were saying, ‘He is Elijah,’ still others, ‘He is a prophet like any of the prophets.’But when Herod learned of it, he said, ‘It is John whom I beheaded. He has been raised up.’”

John was put to death before Jesus. Herod “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.” (Mark 6:20) Some in his court even became followers of Jesus. Joanna, the wife of Herod’s steward, Chuza, followed Jesus to Jerusalem (Luke 8:3).

Others in Herod’s circle, however, became his enemies. Early on in his gospel Mark notes that the Pharisees seek out “Herodians”, some of Herod’s people, as allies to put Jesus to death. ( Mark 3,16) Then, there were Herod’s vengeful wife Herodias and her dancing daughter. 

John’s passion foreshadows the passion of Jesus as the preface for today’s Mass states: “God willed that Saint John the Baptist should go ahead of your Son both in his birth and in his death.” Mark places John’s death in his gospel to indicate the rejection Jesus faced at Nazareth and other Galilean towns will culminate in his death. The powers that be decree it, even though some like Pontius Pilate and Herod himself do it hesitantly. Evil is at work. 

John was arrested and imprisoned in Herod’s fortress of Macherius near the Dead Sea. His disciples scattered. He was beheaded and an innocent man died alone. “When his disciples heard about it, they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb,”

John’s death was also reported by a contemporary Jewish historian, Josephus. According to him Herod was alarmed at John’s popularity with the people and “decided to strike first and be rid of him before it led to an uprising.” ( Antiquities18.118)  Jesus’ death resulted from of a simple pragmatic political decision.

Mark’s account of John’s death, is one of the great stories of literature. Our prayer at Mass calls John “ a Martyr for truth and justice” and asks God that “ we, too, may fight hard for the confession of what you teach.”

Truth and justice are endangered values today. John’s example is a timely one. 

  The preface for today’s Mass sums up why John is honored:

“In Saint John the Baptist, we praise your great glory, O God, for you consecrated him for a singular honor among those born of women.His birth brought great rejoicing; even in the womb he leapt for joy at the coming of human salvation. He alone of all the prophets pointed out the Lamb of redemption. And to make holy the flowing waters, he baptized the very author of Baptism and was privileged to bear him supreme witness by the shedding of his blood.”

Venerable Bede sees John’s death like the death of Jesus because they both embraced the same values. If John stayed silent about Herod’s conduct, he may have gained a few peaceful years of life, but he was more concerned with what God thinks than what powerful people think. 

“His persecutor had demanded not that he should deny Christ, but only that he should keep silent about the truth. Nevertheless, he died for Christ. Does Christ not say: I am the truth?

“He preached the freedom of heavenly peace, yet was thrown into irons by ungodly men; he was locked away in the darkness of prison, though he came bearing witness to the Light of life.

“But heaven notices – not the span of our lives, but how we live them, speaking the truth.” (Bede, Homily)

In contrast, Herod noting only the opinion of his guests, gives in to Herodias’s vengefulness. Human sinfulness is on display in this banquet at court, which the artist (Above) describes so well. The women smugly presenting John’s head. The man pointing his finger at Herod and Herod denying it all. John’ eyes are still open, his mouth still speaks.

Wonderful line from Bede: “Heaven notices – not the span of our lives, but how we live them, speaking the truth.” 

The memorial of the Passion of Saint John the Baptist complements the Solemnity of his birth, celebrated June 24, about six months before that of Christ. Our liturgical celebration of his martyrdom goes back to the dedication in the 5th century of a small basilica in Sebaste, Samaria that celebrates the discovery of his head. The feast was celebrated in 5th century France and 6th century Rome. In the 12th century Pope Innocent II had John’s head later transferred to Rome to the Church of Saint Sylvester in Capite.