Give me at once on a platter the head of John the Baptist.

We are all familiar with today’s Gospel:  the sad and brutal execution of the “righteous and holy man,” St. John the Baptist.   But let’s take a moment to review some of the background for this familiar story.

John was a descendant from the priestly clans of Israel—a group that had, by and large, collaborated with King Herod’s corrupt rule.   Rather than associating with this group, John withdrew to the desert and began preaching a message of repentance aimed at all of Israel, including Herod and his priests.   Angered by John’s confrontational words, Herod had John imprisoned.

Now comes the scene in scripture, in which Herod’s stepdaughter was used in the most perverse way.   She was sent to seduce him with her dancing and trick him into agreeing to John’s execution.   Many movies and plays have portrayed this girl as a wicked temptress who was complicit in the plot.   But it’s more likely that she was just a pawn in the hands of her manipulative mother.

We don’t have to search far for similar injustices happening today.   News outlets are filled with stories of children subject to similar kinds of abuse.   We hear also of poverty and racial tensions, human trafficking and abortion.   The list goes on and on.

All of this can lead us to feel overwhelmed.   How can I make a difference on such global-scale issues?   I’m only one person.   Besides, I don’t have the time, the money, or the resources to help out.

But nobody is really helpless when it comes to overcoming injustice.   You certainly can reach beyond the walls of your home.   Whether it’s through financial support or by volunteering at a local agency or by committing every day to pray against these evils, you can make a difference.   You don’t have to follow the path of John the Baptist and become a martyr in the cause of social justice.   You just have to take one small but courageous step, and you’ll help bring God’s salvation and justice to the people who are hurting today.

Word Among Us