Precursor of Christ in birth and death

Treasures of Our Faith with Deacon Richard Vehige

Today, August 29, as our Church celebrates the Memorial of the Beheading of John the Baptist, Martyr, we are invited to reflect on a passage from the second letter of the apostle Paul to the Corinthians (4: 7---5:8), entitled “The power of Christ is made manifest in our sufferings”. Our treasure, which follows, is from a homily by Saint Bede the Venerable, priest.

Herod imprisoned John because he had condemned Herod for committing adultery by living with his brother's wife, Herodias. At the celebration for Herod on his birthday, the daughter of Herodias danced for him, and Herod was so impressed that he said he would offer her anything she liked. She consulted with Herodias who told her to ask for the head of John the Baptist on a platter. Herod did not want to kill John for fear or what his followers might do, but because of his promise to the girl he could not refuse, and so John was beheaded.

Saint Bede was an early eighth century English monk and an author and scholar. Saint Bede, trained by Saint Benedict, is one of the few saints honored as such during his lifetime. His writings were filled with such faith and learning that, even while he was still alive, a church Council ordered them to be read publicly in the churches. He is best known for his work, the “Ecclesial History of the English People”, a source vital to the history of the conversion to Christianity of the Anglo-Saxon tribes.

The Second Letter to the Corinthians is the most personal of all of Paul’s extant writings, and it reveals much about his character. In it he deals with one or more crises that have arisen in the Corinthian church. The confrontation with these problems caused him to reflect deeply on his relationship with the community and to speak about it frankly. One moment he is venting his feelings of frustration and uncertainty, the next he is pouring out his relief and affection. The importance of the issues at stake between them calls forth from him an enormous effort of personal persuasion, as well as doctrinal considerations that are of great value for us.