Youth for Christ Sto. Tomas Cluster

03022012

Sirach 47:2-11 / Psalm 18

Gospel: Mark 6: 14-29

John the Baptist Beheaded

King Herod heard of it, for Jesus’ name had become known. Some were saying, “John the baptizer has been raised from the dead; and for this reason these powers are at work in him.” But others said, “It is Elijah.” And others said, “It is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old.” But when Herod heard of it, he said, “John, whom I beheaded, has been raised.”

For Herod himself had sent men who arrested John, bound him, and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, because Herod had married her. For John had been telling Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” 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, “Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will give it.” And he solemnly swore to her, “Whatever you ask me, I will give you, even half of my kingdom.” She went out and said to her mother, “What should I ask for?” She replied, “The head of John the baptizer.” Immediately she rushed back to the king and requested, “I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.” 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’s 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.

Photo by: Roxy Navarro

Silent Suffering

They say that to have faith is to have a personal relationship with God. For me, and perhaps for most, I experience God as a father.

Fathers love their children beyond everything that they are. A father does everything in his power to ensure that his children are happy and protected. At first, nobody understands their father’s ways—his sternness and lack of humor. But later on, they see that it was all just his way of loving his children.

Being a father must be very difficult, too. In this still mostly patriarchal world, fathers are expected to be the provider for their family. If the children’s lives are lacking in any way, society frowns upon the father for not being a good provider as well as a strong pillar.

That, I guess, is every father’s deepest burden. He has to be willing to play the bad guy, if only to make sure that his child remains safe. All he can do is suffer silently as his child breeds contempt towards him because he wants that child to lead a life better than he hopes to imagine.

As a father, I supposed that God Is the same way. I suppose that God panics just the same when we stumble and fall. I suppose that God scolds us just the same when we do something naughty. I suppose that God suffers just the same when we say we hate God or our family.

A friend once told me, “Before we can even register the pain we feel, God has already cried an ocean for us.”

Have you ever thanked your Father?

Writer: Nile Villa | Artist: Roxy Navarro

via CFCYOUTHFORCHRIST.NET