{"id":16102,"date":"2021-01-29T06:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-01-29T06:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mailchi.mp\/urc\/urc-daily-devotionfriday-29th-january-2021"},"modified":"2021-01-29T06:00:00","modified_gmt":"2021-01-29T06:00:00","slug":"urc-daily-devotion-friday-29th-january-2021","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.trinitywimbledon.org\/index.php\/urc-daily-devotion-friday-29th-january-2021\/","title":{"rendered":"URC Daily Devotion\u00a0Friday 29th January 2021"},"content":{"rendered":"

Friday 29th January <\/strong><\/p>\n

St Mark 6: 14 – 29<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

King Herod heard of it, for Jesus\u2019 name had become known. Some were saying, \u2018John the baptizer has been raised from the dead; and for this reason these powers are at work in him.\u2019 But others said, \u2018It is Elijah.\u2019 And others said, \u2018It is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old.\u2019  But when Herod heard of it, he said, \u2018John, whom I beheaded, has been raised.\u2019  For Herod himself had sent men who arrested John, bound him, and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip\u2019s wife, because Herod had married her. For John had been telling Herod, \u2018It is not lawful for you to have your brother\u2019s wife.\u2019 And Herodias had a grudge against him, and wanted to kill him. But she could not,  for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he protected him. When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed; and yet he liked to listen to him.  But an opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his courtiers and officers and for the leaders of Galilee. When his daughter Herodias came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests; and the king said to the girl, \u2018Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will give it.\u2019  And he solemnly swore to her, \u2018Whatever you ask me, I will give you, even half of my kingdom.\u2019  She went out and said to her mother, \u2018What should I ask for?\u2019 She replied, \u2018The head of John the baptizer.\u2019  Immediately she rushed back to the king and requested, \u2018I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.\u2019  The king was deeply grieved; yet out of regard for his oaths and for the guests, he did not want to refuse her.  Immediately the king sent a soldier of the guard with orders to bring John\u2019s head. He went and beheaded him in the prison,  brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl. Then the girl gave it to her mother. When his disciples heard about it, they came and took his body, and laid it in a tomb.<\/span><\/p>\n

Reflection<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Sometimes bad things happen at parties.  <\/span><\/p>\n

Today\u2019s story includes a heady mix of autocracy, fear, careless promises, bravado, grudges, revenge, and lap dancing.  One wonders why this story is in the Gospels when Jesus is neither present nor speaks. On one hand it concludes the story of John the Baptist.  We learn that he came to a terrible end on the whim of an angry woman who manipulated a young girl.  This is the stuff of atrocity not that of the Scriptures, surely?  <\/span><\/p>\n

And yet.  On the other hand, we continue to live in a world where atrocities occur.  Terror groups continue to murder using savage and less savage methods.  There are still autocrats who make rash promises to help insulate themselves and heads still end up on platters.  There are people, women and men, who abuse and manipulate.  It is a good question to pause and consider carefully who the villain even is in this story?  Is it Herod, or the wife of Herod\/Philip, or the girl, or the soldiers who carried out the order, or who?  <\/span><\/p>\n

This is a story where the central characters are not present.  Jesus is not here.  The story is about John but he isn\u2019t present either.  Perhaps that in itself holds up a mirror to the corners of the world where righteousness and truth are silenced.  Herod is a man who feared the light, who feared righteousness and truth, who realised maybe that if he stepped into even the reflected light of Christ in John, that he would be found wanting.  The best Herod could do was to protect John until he made some rash promises and found he could protect him no longer.  <\/span><\/p>\n

In this story we catch a glimpse of the worst of humanity.  We know that stories like this one have recurred throughout human history.  Stories like this remind us that while we might not demand our enemy\u2019s head on a platter, that we all need Christ\u2019s example to show us how to be better.  <\/span><\/p>\n

Prayer<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Holy One, <\/span>
you see the best of us, <\/span>
you see the worst of us.  <\/span><\/p>\n

Teach us how to be better, <\/span>
show us how to <\/span>
let go of grudges <\/span>
and those obsessions <\/span>
that diminish us.  <\/span><\/p>\n

We remember John, <\/span>
and all those whose <\/span>
lives have been snuffed out <\/span>
on a whim.  <\/span>
Strengthen us to be better.  <\/span>
In Jesus\u2019 name. 
Amen. <\/span>  <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Friday 29th January  St Mark 6: 14 – 29 King Herod heard of it, for Jesus\u2019 name had become known. Some were saying, \u2018John the baptizer has been raised from the dead; and for this reason these powers are at work in him.\u2019 But others said, \u2018It is Elijah.\u2019 And others said, \u2018It is a … <\/p>\n

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