Martyrdom

Memorial of the Martyrdom of Saint John the Baptist

First Reading: 1 Corinthians 1:17-25
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 33
Mark 6:17-29

Today we remember and celebrate the martyrdom of Saint John the Baptist. John had a very significant role to play in our salvation history. His was to prepare the way for the ministry of Jesus. Today we learn of his last act on earth. In the gospel today, John was beheaded for speaking out against a wrongdoing of Herod and Herodias. Because of his witness to the truth, he paid with his life. But all was not in vain, for John suffered and died for the glory of God. John is considered a martyr.

So what exactly is a martyr? If we dust our catechism off the bookshelf and open it up, we find that the church in all her wisdom has a very clear definition. The following excerpt is taken out of our catechism:

"2473 Martyrdom is the supreme witness given to the truth of the faith: it means bearing witness even unto death. The martyr bears witness to Christ who died and rose, to whom he is united by charity...He endures death through an act of fortitude."

I believe that martyrs teach us about being completely selfless. They give of themselves without thinking and with complete love of God. One thing about the martyrs and the saints, is that they know their role. To often we think about what we want and how we want to live out our life. How often do we think about what God has planned for us and what our role in this world really should be?

John the baptist knew his role from the beginning. John the baptist teaches us about giving our lives to God, even until the end. He teaches us about living out our role. In the gospel of John (ch. 3), John the baptist made it a point to tell people that he was not the Messiah, and then knowing his role ever more John says about Jesus "He must increase; I must decrease." (John 3:30) This is a very short and simple verse, but it should mean so much to us. This verse speaks of how we need to live out our life of faith. We must let Jesus increase in us and in our lives, while we must decrease. I pray that like John the baptist, I can know my role and let Jesus take the lead.

He must increase; we must decrease.

Father above, we thank you for giving us the great witness of John the Baptist. We thank you for him and the the martyrs who courageously gave their life for the faith so that we might go forward. May we like them, give of ourselves totally and not hold back from you at all in our lives. Lord, increase our faith so that no matter what we can follow you. Lord, let us decrease in our lives, while you increase so that your will may be done. We ask this all through Christ our Lord. Amen.