On A Platter

At that time Herod the ruler heard reports about Jesus; and he said to his servants, “This is John the Baptist; he has been raised from the dead, and for this reason these powers are at work in him.” For Herod had arrested John, bound him, and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, because John had been telling him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.” Though Herod wanted to put him to death, he feared the crowd, because they regarded him as a prophet. But when Herod’s birthday came, the daughter of Herodias danced before the company, and she pleased Herod so much that he promised on oath to grant her whatever she might ask. Prompted by her mother, she said, “Give me the head of John the Baptist here on a platter.” The king was grieved, yet out of regard for his oaths and for the guests, he commanded it to be given; he sent and had John beheaded in the prison. The head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, who brought it to her mother. His disciples came and took the body and buried it; then they went and told Jesus. Matthew 14:1-12 

We are more likely to say, " he was thrown under a bus" these days than, "have his head on a platter." Yet, we understand that someone innocent took the blame for another's bad deeds. Truth telling can get one in trouble faster than rumor spreading. From high and low places, folks seem to think it's okay to spread falsehoods to cover their indiscretions. Throughout history, we have truth tellers wh lost their livelihoods and their lives for telling the truth. It is these who are honored and remembered.

Our Gopsel today looks away from Jesus for a moment to focus on John. He was in prison for telling the truth. He was caught up in the political intrigue of the day. His name was in every headline. It is interesting that we are in a day of great political intrigue, with leaders acting like they are divine and unwilling to be honest. Meanwhile others are" thrown under the bus" to deflect from less than appropriate behavior. We are invited today to be truth tellers, in spite of the consequences, knowing that the outcome might be terrible in the short term. 

Today, I ask God to help me be a truth teller and unafraid in the face of power. May we all find faith strength to combat the evils in our world with love and truth, so that those who follow behind us might be bathed in that same love and truth.