{"id":21659,"date":"2024-02-07T06:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-02-07T06:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mailchi.mp\/urc\/wednesday-7-february-2024-the-revd-peter-moth"},"modified":"2024-02-07T06:00:00","modified_gmt":"2024-02-07T06:00:00","slug":"wednesday-7-february-2024-the-revd-peter-moth","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.trinitywimbledon.org\/index.php\/wednesday-7-february-2024-the-revd-peter-moth\/","title":{"rendered":"Wednesday, 7 February 2024 The Rev\u2019d Peter Moth"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Wednesday, 7 February 2024<\/strong><\/p>\n

St Mark 6: 14 – 29<\/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.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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

As Mark tells the story, this seems a strange interlude in the beginnings of Jesus\u2019s ministry. Mark, usually eager to press on with the story of Jesus, with his constant repetition of \u201cstraightway\u201d as he urges the disciples on from one parable to the next while the increasing crowds gathering to him are hard-pressed to get a meal, never mind a rest. Mark tells the story of John\u2019s death almost in the style of the Arabian Nights \u2013 a tale of gossip and intrigue, death and disaster, set in the sumptuous surroundings of Herod the Tetrarch\u2019s palace. No, it\u2019s not the Herod who massacred the infants at Bethlehem. It\u2019s Herod the Tetrarch, Ruler of Galilee. Disentangling the relationships of the Herods and their various wives is quite a task, which I shall not undertake here. Sufficient to say that it was complicated and broke at least 2 of the 10 Commandments! <\/p>\n

John Baptist protested \u2013 loudly \u2013 he was not given much to silence! Herod, fascinated by John, but fearful of his rabble-rousing qualities arrests him, and the tragic outcome has been immortalised  by Mark, followed by Matthew and then briefly mentioned in Luke. The historian Josephus tells us that the young girl\u2019s name was \u201cSalome\u201d, immortalised by Strauss and Wilde in music and drama. What a strange tale for a Gospel writer to offer. It is there as a reminder that power corrupts, that Jesus understood this and made sure that he would not be tainted by it. He remained with the people and not the Princes.<\/p>\n

What Mark tells us is that power and politics, deceit and adultery, money and profit do not open the door to the Kingdom of Heaven which belongs to the poor and is where those who mourn shall be comforted.<\/p>\n

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

Strengthen us O God, to relieve the oppressed,
to hear the groans of poor prisoners,
to reform the abuses of all professions;
that many be made not poor to make a few rich;
for Jesus Christ\u2019s sake.  Amen.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Oliver Cromwell<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Wednesday, 7 February 2024 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 … <\/p>\n

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