Jeremiah 1:17-19 / Mark 6:17-29
We might wonder how Jesus would have felt when he heard about the death of his cousin, John the Baptist.
Not much is said about their relationship, but we can guess they knew each other from their earliest days, probably played together, talked about life.
Both knew they had a mission.
And both also know that the mission cannot be accomplished without putting their lives on the line.
John the Baptist was the first to do it and that line was drawn across his neck.
For Jesus, it was drawn at the cross.
And for us, that line will also be drawn for us.
A line that will cut across the various aspects of our lives when we have to decide between whose side to stand on.
To stand on God's side, then there will be lines drawn right across our faith, our love, our hope, our security, our future, which will result in sorrow and pain, and maybe even some scars and wounds.
But it is through those sorrows and pain, and those scars and wounds that God will continue to save the world.
For it is by Christ's wounds that we ourselves have been healed and saved.
May we, like St. John the Baptist, put our lives in the hands of God, and bear witness to truth and love.