Jeremiah 1:17-19 / Mark 6:17-29
Many things make sense when we step back and look at them again.
In other words, things can become clearer when we look at them from a distance.
For example, we didn’t know beautiful our Earth is until we got the pictures of planet Earth from outer space.
Similarly, life, and also death, can make sense when we step back and look at them from a distance.
The birth of St. John the Baptist was surrounded with special events like, when he leapt in his mother’s womb when Mary visited her, his father lost the ability to speak until John was born, and the name John was also rather unexpected and surprised the relatives.
The birth of St. John the Baptist may have generated astonishment and amazement, but his death may seem like a disappointment and even an abandonment.
For someone whom Jesus called the “greatest of men” the ending was such a stark contrast to the beginning.
Yet, life and death can be understood when we step back and look at them from a distance.
Then we can see that the birth and death of St. John the Baptist points to the saving plan of God.
St. John the Baptist pointed out Jesus as the Saviour. And then he stepped aside and continued with his message of repentance to the point that he laid down his life for it.
So, in life and in death, St. John the Baptist gave glory to God and carried out his role in God’s plan of salvation.
May we too know our role in God’s plan of salvation, so that, like St. John the Baptist, from the beginning to the end, our life will be for the glory of God.