Holyrood Church 715 West 179 Street, Upper West side Manhattan, USA, 212-923-3770

It takes courage to admit mistakes.

And the king was exceedingly sorry, but because of his oaths and his guests he did not want to break his word to her. Mark 6:26.
 
Good morning, happy Monday, and many blessings my dear family.
 
In today’s Gospel (Mark 6:17-29) we recall the Passion of John the Baptist.  Mark chronicles John’s arrest, imprisonment, and death.  It is a horrific story, and it mirrors the atrocities that we human beings continually perpetrate on one another. 
 
John’s crime was that he bluntly told Herod that is was not lawful for him to marry Herodias, his brother’s wife.  When Herodias heard this, she harbored a grudge against John and she was determined to have him killed; however, she did not have the authority or means to do so.  Herodias was a clever, manipulative, and conniving woman, however, and she began planning how to get revenge on John.
 
It so happened that Herod had a birthday celebration.  He had invited many esteemed guests to his party.  During the celebration, Herodias’ daughter performed a beautiful dance that enchanted Herod and his guests.  Herod was so enthralled by her performance that he said the girl: “Ask of me whatever you will, and I will give it to you, even if you ask me for half of my kingdom.”
 
The girl quickly went to her mother and asked her what she should ask of Herod.  Her mother immediately said: “Ask for the head of John the Baptist.”   Herodias’ daughter returned to Herod and told him that she wanted the head of John the Baptist on a platter.  Herod was distressed by her request.  He admired John and respected him.  Yet, he had given his oath and all of his guests had witnessed this oath.  What would they think of him if he did not keep his word?  Herod truly was in a bind.
 
Finally, Herod gave the order to have John beheaded.  And so it happened: John’s head was brought to Herod on a platter.  Herod gave it to the girl and the girl gave it to her mother. 
 
I assume that at times all of us have been in a bind.  Perhaps we were asked to do something that we knew was not right.  At some point in the future, we likely will be in a similar situation.  It is difficult to stand up and do what is right when there is pressure from others to conform to what they do.  At these times, will we have the strength and courage to stand our ground and do what we know is right and just?  Or will we cave in to please others or to look good? 
 
Taking time to gather information, pray, reflect, and weigh up the consequences before taking any serious action or decision is important. Is there any area of your life where your desire or decision are not truly in harmony with God’s desire for you? If you have made wrong decisions that have negatively impacted on you or others, ask God guidance to reconcile any difficulties or fractured relationships.
 
Blessings,

Luis+

Date news: 
Monday, August 29, 2022 - 11:30

Ministry at the time of Coronavirus (Covid 19): Prevent, cure and accompany

Now we have to shape what some have started calling; The Church at Home. Although I keep asking myself; What do those who do not have a home do? For this reason, at the same time, I am declaring today in our Holyrood Church a Lenten day of prayer, fasting and reading the Bible in the Time of the Coronavirus.

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