First Reading - Hebrews 13:1-8
Gospel - Mark 6:14-29
In the first reading, we hear about a piece of advice given to the Christians on ‘love of the brothers’ and ‘willing hospitality’. The passage also cites that love for one another is to be manifested by visiting the imprisoned, praying for the persecuted, honouring the marriage covenant, avoiding greed and any sexual immorality etc. The advice of hospitality is based on the historical context of the early Christian communities who were continuously on the move, with apostles and other representatives of the communities from place to place. There was an urgent need for the hospitality for them. The open-hearted hospitality is encouraged by the author as the mark of Christian charity which is reinforced by the allusion that ‘some have entertained angels unawares’, no doubt referring to Abraham’s hospitality to the Angel of the LORD in Genesis 18, or perhaps to Gideon’s entertainment of an angel in Judges 6.19.
The passage in general urges the faithful to form their conscience as more godly rather than perverted. This piece of practical advice reminds the faithful to be aware of their duties as Christians and avoid any occasion that can lead them away from their identity and duty. It also comes as a reminder for them to be attentive to what God speaks to them through their pure conscience and be watchful of what distracts them and perverts their conscience.
The gospel passage presents the lax conscience of Herod who heard about Jesus and was perplexed. Herod had a lax conscience because he was blinded by his sins though it was pointed out by John, the Baptist (He married the wife of his brother who was still alive which was strictly forbidden by the Law. As a matter of fact, he was in adultery).The rumours about Jesus came to him as surprise as some called him John the Baptist and others Elijah. The curiosity to see Jesus rose in Herod but not for any change but to see John alive in Jesus. The right conscience of Herod was silenced by his indifference. Therefore, he also failed to give heed to the voice of John the Baptist. However, the request for the head of John the Baptist certainly shocked him but didn't change him. He failed to see his sins in his sinful acts.
Dear friends, we have a moral guide, our conscience. If we keep our conscience intact and unaffected by our indifference and pervertedness, and always listen to it, we will never go wrong. In fact, God speaks and guides us through our conscience. When we make mistakes, our conscience corrects us and pricks us lest we make the same mistakes again and again. In the gospel, we heard about Herod who turned his deaf ears to his conscience and didn't change his ways, though he was often challenged by John the Baptist. The first reading also reminds us to be watchful (of our actions, thoughts, and words) because pervertedness or evilness can pervert our conscience. It's therefore recommended that take care of our godly actions or works that keep our conscience pure.
The readings of today are the voice for us to invigorate our conscience. We are warned today to not make our conscience lax like Herod but strong and firm. We are encouraged by the readings to let our conscience remain firmly rooted in God by attending to it everyday by the Examination of Conscience. The examination of conscience helps us discover ourselves that is; Where we are and where we are heading towards in our spiritual, moral, and daily life. This also will help us watch over our conscience whether it is still a right or delicate or lax, scruplous or perplexed conscience etc.
Today we are invited by the readings to not allow our conscience to go dead by constantly acting against it but we are to listen to it as God's voice and act accordingly.
May God help us keep our conscience pure and right.
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