miércoles, 29 de agosto de 2012

Saints...


† Saints

The Martyrdom of St. John the Baptist
Year 30

Lord, we pray for many couples unmarried and living in sin. Forgive them and grant them true conversion. And we pray that you never stop sending brave preachers, like John the Baptist who did not let the sinners be calm in your life of sin that can lead to destruction, and to awaken the consciences of his hearers to die each choice rather than sin.

The Gospel of Mark tells follows the death of the great forerunner, John the Baptist: "Herod had ordered John the Baptist put in prison, and had been chained to the prison, because of Herodias, his brother's wife Philippi , with which Herod had gone to live with a partner. For John had said to Herod, "It is permitted to move in with his brother's wife." Herodias had a great hatred for this to John the Baptist and wanted him killed, but could not because Herod had a deep respect for John and considered him a holy man, and protected him and to hear him speak it was thoughtful and fearful, and heard him gladly. "
"But the day came timely, when Herod on his birthday gave a feast to all major city. Came to the party and the daughter of Herodias danced, dancing pleased Herod him, and he promised with an oath:" Ask me anything you want and I will give it, even half of my kingdom. "

The girl went to his mother and asked, "What do I want?". She said: "Ask for the head of John the Baptist." She ran to where the king and said: "I want to give me on a platter the head of John the Baptist."

The king was deeply distressed, but not to offend the girl and because it seemed to be served that vain oath, sent one of his guards to go to jail and bring him the head of John. The other went to prison, cut off his head and brought on a platter and gave it to the girl and the girl gave it to her mother. Hearing John's disciples came and buried him (Mark 6:17).

Herod Antipas had committed a sin that scandalized the Jewish cause she is forbidden by the Holy Bible and the moral law. He had gone to live with his brother's wife. Juan Bautista publicly denounced him. It took a lot of courage to make a complaint like this because these kings of the east were very despots and sent without more killing who dared to reproach them their mistakes.

Herod was content initially only inmate put to John, because he had great respect for him. But the adulterous Herodias was alert to send kill at the first opportunity that presented itself, to which she told her partner that was sinful life that were taking.

When asked for the head of John the Baptist the king felt enormous sadness that felt much to John and was convinced he was a saint and every time I heard him talk about God and the soul felt deeply moved. But do not look bad with his buddies that he had heard his foolish oath (which really could not oblige because he swears to do something bad, never forces you to accomplish that sworn) and not upset that wicked, She ordered the holy precursor.

This is a typical case of how one sin leads to another sin committed. Herod and Herodias began ended up being adulterers and murderers. The sin of adultery led to crime, the killing of a saint.

John died a martyr to his duty, because he had read the recommendation that the prophet Isaiah makes the preachers: "Caution: not intended for dumb dogs that do not bark when thieves come to steal." The Baptist saw the enemy coming to steal the soul salvation of Herod and his concubine and spoke loudly. That was his duty. And had the great joy of dying for proclaiming the need to enforce the laws of God and morality. It was a true martyr.

An ancient tradition says that Herodias years later was walking on a frozen river and ice opened and she was consumed to the neck and ice closed and killed. It may have been the case or not. But what is historic is that Herod Antipas was banished after a distant land, his concubine. And the father of his first wife (which he had to stay away Herodias) invaded their territory Nabataeans Antipas and made enormous damage. It is no sin to run out of their respective punishment.