Readings: Lev 25:15, 8-17 Mt 14: 1-12
Today’s readings invite us to do no harm to anyone but to fear the Lord. John the Baptist in today’s gospel was not afraid to stand before Herod and challenge him for the wrongdoings, for John feared the Lord. Today we are invited to stand strong in faith, for God always protects those who fear him. The persecution continues even today. But God is on the side of those who have been persecuted and works through them.
In the gospel John the Baptist calls us to speak the truth at any cost.
He asks us to be fearless of the consequences of speaking the truth because the fear of God has great reward. Fearing God calls us to come out of comfort zones. We have many examples of those who have feared the Lord even in these modern times where technology and science flourish. Stan swami is the best example of our time who feared the Lord and not the worldly powers and authority, as a result he had to sacrifice his life for the sake of God’s people.
Today’s first reading too calls us to fear the Lord in all things and not to take advantage of those who are weak and poor but to treat them with respect. Therefore, we shall ask the Lord to give us the courage and strength to fear God and not the world and worldly powers or authority.