HE LIKED TO LISTEN TO HIM … THEN HE BEHEADED HIM

PRAYER MOMENT  

Friday 7 February 2014.

HE LIKED TO LISTEN TO HIM … THEN HE BEHEADED HIM

Pause. Be still in the presence of the Lord.

Reading. “He knew him as a good and holy man and gave him his protection. When he heard him speak he was greatly perplexed, and yet he liked to listen to him.”  (Mark 6:14-29.

Reflection. Perhaps we are appalled by the frivolous way Herod dealt with John the Baptiser. He was clearly impressed by him and even welcomed what John had to say. But, like the seed that fell on the path, John’s words did not really change him and when his way of life as threatened he acted predictably. Herod added his name to the sorry list of those of official Israel who “did not recognise the moment of your visitation” (Luke 19:44). But we would not be wise to ignore that the spirit of compromise lingers also in us. With Jesus you are either for him or against him. The clearer we can be aware of that distinction in our own response to him the nearer we will be to a whole hearted engagement in his great project.  

Prayer. Lord, we can see the compromise so clearly in Herod. Help us too to see the ways we compromise with your gospel in our own response. Amen.