Do Not Deal Unfairly
Piety
Do not deal unfairly with one another, then; but stand in
fear of your God. I, the LORD, am your God. Leviticus 25:17
The king was distressed, but because of his oaths and the
guests who were present, he ordered that it be given, and he had John beheaded
in the prison. His head was brought in on a platter and given to the girl, who
took it to her mother. His disciples came and took away the corpse and buried
him, and they went and told Jesus. Matthew 14:9-12
Study
Words matter. Poor Herod would not have been so distressed
if 1) he had not been committing adultery. If he had listened to John's advice,
he would not have been distressed. John rebuked Herod because of the immoral
relationship with his sister-in-law, Herodias. If he had not bragged in front
of the whole celebration, he would not have been distressed.
I find a certain sadness, a bitter irony, that Matthew even
cares to recount how Herod feels but says nothing about John. John is the one
sitting in a dark prison cell. John is the one about to meet the end of his
days as a sword drops down on his neck. John is having what he does not even
know is his last meal. If this were today, John would be meeting with the
prison chaplain if they even had time with the rush to execution. Would the
Supreme Court have time to rule on his last-minute appeal? Would the
executioner blindfold John and give him the last cigarette?
Words matter. Humility matters. Obedience matters. (Sr. Mary Margaret Funk can provide an entire bookshelf of lessons.)
John
knew from his first leap in Elizabeth's womb that he is there to prepare us for
the way of the Lord, the direction of humility. The form of obedience. The
death of self. That accomplishment proves that John, in the end, is the
ultimate victor. Herod deals unfairly. John stands in awesome wonder of his
God.
Do not deal unfairly with one another, then; but stand in
fear of your God.
Action
The first reading not only prescribes the atonement on the
fiftieth year but also sets forth ways to reverence God and to repair our
relationships with our neighbors. We need more than reverence for God. We also
must treat each other with justice. "Do not deal unfairly."
A book many of us read as a child or read to our children
puts it another way. Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, the author of “The Little
Prince,” explains it this way: If you want to build a ship, don't drum up
the people to gather wood, divide the work, and give orders. Instead, teach
them to yearn for the vast and endless sea.
John was both inspired to act above his self-interest and be
an example for us to do the same.
What act of kindness can you do today to act above
self-interest?
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