Everyday Faith

Today's Saint of the Day is St. John the Baptist. We remember his life and execution on this day.

Who's Who:

• St. John the Baptist was a cousin of Jesus, and his mission was to preach repentance to Israel in preparation for the coming of the Messiah.
• King Herod was ruler of the lands of Galilee and Perea.
• Philip, King Herod's half-brother
• Herodias, wife of Philip and niece of King Herod; would eventually become Herod's wife
• Salome, daughter of Philip & Herodias, great-niece of King Herod, would become Herod's step-daughter

Backstory:

While Herod was visiting his half-brother Philip, he became enamoured with Philip's wife, Herodias. After a time, the two agreed to marry, and did so before the death of his half-brother. When John heard of this, he approached the king and condemned him for his lustful and unlawful behavior. Upon hearing this, Herodias was furious and demanded of her husband that John needed to be punished for his disrespect.

And So It Begins…..

Herod, for whatever reason, was unwilling to kill John, so he had him imprisoned in the fortress of Machaerus instead. There he allowed John’s disciples to visit him and Herod himself had even visited with his prisoner. He found John to be quite interesting and conversed with him often. John's message of holiness baffled and intrigued him.

On the occasion of Herod's birthday, he threw a lavish party and offered his guests a great feast. Salome, Herodias's daughter, had even offered to dance for Herod's guests. 

Herod was greatly pleased by this, so as a reward he promised to give her whatever she asked for, even if it was half his kingdom (that must've been one heck of an impressive dance for the king to be willing to part with half his kingdom! Either that or she was just a massively spoiled brat.) Salome did not know what to ask and consulted her mother. Herod awaited Salome's reply with some anxiety. The king thought "what if she did ask for half his kingdom?" His guests probably thought that Salome would want some fabulous jewel, a dowry, or a pleasant house. Herod was truly worried, his reputation was at stake here.

When Salome returned to the king, her request was shocking: “Give me, right

now, the head of John the Baptist on a platter.” (Obviously this was the doing of her mother.) Herod was deeply troubled by this. The mood of a moment was costing him more dearly than he had anticipated. Herod regretfully ordered the execution of John the Baptist.

After his execution, John’s disciples took his body and buried it. When the news of John’s beheading reached Jesus, He went to be alone (Matthew 14:13). His cousin John had introduced His ministry, given Him his first disciples, and baptized Him. (When Herod had heard of the miracles that were performed by Christ, Herod superstitiously thought he was the reincarnation of John.)

It has been said that sometime later, parts of his remains had been carried off to Alexandria, Egypt where Christians placed them in a church (which is now the site of an Islamic mosque) especially built to honor the forerunner of Jesus. History doesn't tell us what became of Salome. As for Herod, his divorce from his first wife to marry Herodias led him into a war from which he emerged seriously weakened. He would later encounter Jesus and mock him. Finally he disappeared from history with Herodias at his side when the Romans forced him into exile.

St. John the Baptist is the last and greatest of the Old Testament prophets and is highly venerated by the Church. The feast of his martyrdom is August 29th.