How many times have you played blind and deaf at the wrongdoing of others, just to avoid offending them? - Daily Reflections February 7,2014

RIGHTEOUSNESS AND REVENGE   The Gospel today details how the beheading of John the Baptist came about. We know John to be a holy and righteous man and, at the time, such are the kind of people who were more likely to be persecuted and ridiculed for their example and testimony of faith. When John told Herod that it is not lawful for him to have his brother’s wife, Herodias, the latter harbored a grudge against him and wanted to kill him. From the Gospel, we learned that she eventually had the opportunity to have John beheaded, to the distress even of Herod himself.        We see how hate can lead one to desire evil on other people. Death is not evil in itself, but putting in one’s hands the power to decide who dies or who lives, much like what Herodias did, is something that is completely unfathomable. There was nothing wrong with what John said about the illegitimacy of her marriage, but she took offense and had her vengeance.        How many times have we experienced the same? We may not have wanted someone else’s head on a platter delivered to us, but desiring evil or misfortune on others is tantamount to being another Herodias today.        When we are corrected for something we are obviously doing wrong, how do we react? When we are involved in illicit relationships, doing illegal business transactions, or living immoral lives, and somebody sincerely concerned pointed this out to us, do we take notice and desire to change, or do we take revenge and desire to avenge for our faults? When we are told to shape up, do we listen or do we become indifferent?        Righteousness and holiness cost John the Baptist his life. But it is the price he would pay if only to set an example for us of authentic witnessing to the faith. Oftentimes, it takes a great sacrifice to be awakened to the truth. May our lives be awakened by the sacrifice of the life of John the Baptist and may we embrace our shortcomings fully and desire not revenge but forgiveness for the same. Fr. Erick Y. Santos, OFS   REFLECTION QUESTION: How many times have you played blind and deaf at the wrongdoing of others, just to avoid offending them?   Lord Jesus, teach me to uphold righteousness and truth.