The Cyber Vitamin July 13, 2006

The Cyber Vitamin
July 13, 2006

Read: Mark 6:14-29

The story before us today is a sordid one. While King Herod liked to hear John speak, and given his superstitious bent sensed John’s closeness to God, he had taken his taken his brother Philip’s wife Herodias and married her in defiance of Jewish mores. John had criticized him for that and John had him thrown into prison but was too afraid to kill him.

Herodias, however, had no such compunctions and was waiting for the chance to kill John.

Her daughter’s dancing provided the opportunity. Smitten by her skill, Herod boastfully promises to grant her a wish. Consulting with her mother, Salome asks for John’s head on a platter.
The story becomes more sordid. At Herod’s drunken birthday party Herodias made her” Caught between a superstitious fear of killing a prophet and Herod’s own public boast, he capitulated.

While it is unusual in Mark to have a digression such as this, John was too important a figure to ignore. His impact continued long after his death. Therefore the story had to be told. It was far too important to ignore, Even although Mark is utterly captivated by the doings of Christ Jesus, John cannot be left out .

Secondly, up until now the progress of Jesus has been marked by success upon success. However, bad things do happen. Mark does not hide this reality. Before everyone jumps on the “Jesus bandwagon” Mark wants them to know that success is never assured. Evil does not easily yield ground. Things do not always turn out cosy for those who do the will of God. Disaster happened to John. The clouds will soon gather over the head of Jesus, and then enshroud his disciples.”

Having given us the warning, Mark ends his diversion and concludes the story of the first successful mission of the disciples:
The apostles returned to Jesus and told him all that they had done and taught.

So given the ups and downs of life, Jesus has committed his authority into the frail hands of his friends, not for them to feel smug and superior, but to enable them to serve the needy of the world.

Reflection:
Have we not, all of us, waited sometime in our lives for an opportune moment to take advantage of somebody else's weakness and vulnerability? How about that time when we beat a colleague to the punch and got that promotion instead of him or her? How about that time when we snatched the girl or boy of our best friend away from him/her? How about that time when we closed that business deal by massaging the facts a little bit? How about that time...? Can we hear Jesus' voice who, after coming out of the wilderness, clearly laid out His message: "Repent and believe in the good news!"What's good news about all of this in light of the fact that we cannot get rid of our discomfort no matter how hard we try? Do we accept and embrace the fact of faith: thehe good news is that we cannot get rid of our discomfort, no matter how hard we try! The good news is that God will never let us go, neither in life nor in death. Do you believe that?

Prayer:
Lord, life in all its tragedy, is still beautiful. Lord, life is messy and as fragile human beings we are messy. But in the midst of this messiness you sent your son to lead us and clean us up. Send your Spirit upon us today that we may grow in our faithfulness to him and his ways. Amen.