Sunday’s lectionary reading from Mark is about the beheading of John the Baptist, who was clapped in jail for condemning Herod’s marriage with the wife of his half-brother Philip, also called Herod II. The text can be confusing because of the many rulers bearing the name Herod. But the Gospel writer is more concerned about John than the intricacies of the court, where fathers killed sons, sons tied to poison fathers, and no one trusted anyone.
In today’s world, we don’t consider that such events can occur. But there are many other events that lead to what is called martyrdom. We think of martyrdom as an event of the past, such as Bonhoeffer’s execution by the Nazis or even the murder of Martin Luther King. But martyrdom means more than dying; it means living a life for others.
More than the phrase, “don’t be such a martyr,” as if it is a self-centered willingness to do for others, true martyrdom is a renunciation of self, something that is really difficult to do. The word originally meant witness. For us, the question is, how can we be better witnesses of the faith we profess?
Prayer for the Day
We are humbled, Wellspring of being, by your Word,
And easily do we cry for your mercy and goodness;
But we do not want to account for the stewardship of our lives,
And we tremble with difficulty when facing your call.
Open us to the possibilities of being witnesses of your love,
And restore us through your grace to care for others.
In the name of him who expanded our vision of you,
Even Christ Jesus our Lord, Amen.
Thoughts for the Day
What has violence ever accomplished? What has it ever created? No martyr’s cause was ever stopped by an assassin’s bullet.
Robert F. Kennedy, U.S. Senator, assassinated June 5, 1968
I am in the world to change the world.
Muriel Rukeyser, American poet and political activist (1913-1980)
Your word is a lamp unto my feet and a light to my path;
I have sworn an oath to confirm it and to observe your righteous ordinances.
Psalm 119: 105-106