Saturday 29 August

Passion of John the Baptist (M)

Jeremiah 1:17-19; Psalm 71; Mark 6:17-29

His disciples … came

John is up front. He speaks the truth. Herod shows weak ambivalence – his attitudes swing in various directions. John gives costly and lonely witness to the Gospel. There are parallels with what will happen to Jesus, but notice John’s disciples. They come as group to ask for his body and to bury him. Jesus’ disciples will not do this. They will all flee. Reflect on the very pointed irony Mark is presenting here in his Gospel story about John’s faithful disciples. What would I have done? Reflect on when have I fled rather than be faithfully and bravely present?