“It is not right for you to live with your brother’s wife.” So Herodias held a grudge against John and
wanted to kill him; but she could not, because Herod respected John. He knew John to be an upright
and holy man, and kept him safe. And he liked listening to him; although he became very disturbed
whenever he heard him.
Herodias had her chance on Herod’s birthday, when he gave a dinner for all the senior government
officials, military chiefs, and the leaders of Galilee. On that occasion, the daughter of Herodias came
in and danced; and she delighted Herod and his guests. The king said to the girl, “Ask me for
anything you want and I will give it to you.” And he went so far as to say with many oaths, “I will give
you anything you ask, even half my kingdom.” She went out and said to her mother, “What shall I ask
for?” The mother replied, “The head of John the Baptist.” The girl hurried to the king and made her request,
“I want you to give me the head of John the Baptist, here and now, on a dish.”
The king was very displeased, but he would not refuse in front of his guests because of his oaths. So he
sent one of the bodyguards, with orders to bring John’s head. He went and beheaded John in prison; then
he brought the head on a dish and gave it to the girl. And the girl gave it to her mother. When John’s disciples
heard of this, they came and took his body and buried it.
Reflection:
A young man was consumed with the desire to know life’s meaning. He heard about an all-knowing guru who
lived on a mountain, who could answer him. However, no one before him had succeeded in reaching there,
for the mountain was very dangerous to climb. Besides, the legend was that one could ask only one question
to the guru. The man knew what to ask. And he resolutely climbed the mountain and reached the top. He was
ceremoniously taken to the seat of the guru. To his utter disbelief, the guru was a young, beautiful woman. As he
stood stunned, the lady guru said: “Ask your only question.” Stutteringly he asked: “Madam, are you married?”
Think now: Of all the things in the world Salome could have asked for, she asked for the head of John the Baptist!
What could she have done with it, unless she were a cannibal? What a waste of an opportunity of a lifetime! But,
how different are we before God?
© Copyright Bible Diary 2022
