Herodias harbored a grudge against him and wanted to kill him

29 AUGUST (Mk 6,17-29)
Adultery is the greatest sin in all disorders of human sexuality for the Holy Scripture. It is sanctioned by Ancient Scripture with the death of the man who has violated the sacred bond of the nuptial pact, founded on fidelity forever. One man, one flesh and one vital breath. Suffices to listen to the teaching that the father addresses to the son on this truth, to be convinced that adultery is a sin that destroys not only the wedding, but the very soul and spirit of man. Adultery is a true gangrene that annihilates, destroys and leads into an abyss of eternal death.

My son, keep my words, and treasure my commands. Keep my commands and live, my teaching as the apple of your eye; Bind them on your fingers, write them on the tablet of your heart. Say to Wisdom, “You are my sister!” call Understanding, “Friend!” That they may keep you from another’s wife, from the adulteress with her smooth words. For at the window of my house, through my lattice I looked out – And I saw among the simple ones, I observed among the young men, a youth with no sense, Going along the street near the corner, then walking in the direction of her house – In the twilight, at dusk of day, at the time of the dark of night. And lo! the woman comes to meet him, robed like a harlot, with secret designs – She is fickle and unruly, in her home her feet cannot rest; Now she is in the streets, now in the open squares, and at every corner she lurks in ambush – When she seizes him, she kisses him, and with an impudent look says to him: “I owed peace offerings, and today I have fulfilled my vows; So I came out to meet you, to look for you, and I have found you! With coverlets I have spread my couch, with brocaded cloths of Egyptian linen; I have sprinkled my bed with myrrh, with aloes, and with cinnamon. “Come, let us drink our fill of love, until morning, let us feast on love! For my husband is not at home, he has gone on a long journey; A bag of money he took with him, not till the full moon will he return home.” She wins him over by her repeated urging, with her smooth lips she leads him astray; He follows her stupidly, like an ox that is led to slaughter; Like a stag that minces toward the net, till an arrow pierces its liver; Like a bird that rushes into a snare, unaware that its life is at stake. So now, O children, listen to me, be attentive to the words of my mouth! Let not your heart turn to her ways, go not astray in her paths; For many are those she has struck down dead, numerous, those she has slain. Her house is made up of ways to the nether world, leading down into the chambers of death (Cf. Pr 7,1-27).

Herod had let himself be enchanted by his brother’s wife. John had shouted him that adultery is not lawful before God. It is a violation of his holy law. For this word, Herodias decides his death. Knowing the king, she knows she must wait for an opportunity. But she knows that it will take place, for Herod is foolish and will certainly do foolish things. A foolish and senseless oath was enough to her to eliminate the prophet of God.

Herod was the one who had John arrested and bound in prison on account of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip, whom he had married. John had said to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” Herodias harbored a grudge against him and wanted to kill him but was unable to do so. Herod feared John, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man, and kept him in custody. When he heard him speak he was very much perplexed, yet he liked to listen to him. She had an opportunity one day when Herod, on his birthday, gave a banquet for his courtiers, his military officers, and the leading men of Galilee. Herodias’s own daughter came in and performed a dance that delighted Herod and his guests. The king said to the girl, “Ask of me whatever you wish and I will grant it to you.” He even swore (many things) to her, “I will grant you whatever you ask of me, even to half of my kingdom.” She went out and said to her mother, “What shall I ask for?” She replied, “The head of John the Baptist.” The girl hurried back to the king’s presence and made her request, “I want you to give me at once on a platter the head of John the Baptist.” The king was deeply distressed, but because of his oaths and the guests he did not wish to break his word to her. So he promptly dispatched an executioner with orders to bring back his head. He went off and beheaded him in the prison. He brought in the head on a platter and gave it to the girl. The girl in turn gave it to her mother. When his disciples heard about it, they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.

Adultery, the result of folly and ignorance, because it is a true disobedience to the law of the Lord, produces not even imagined and conceived evils. David also committed adultery and then became a murderer, rather a multi murderer. What will the future of humanity be, since today adultery was legalized and proclaimed the principle of true social growth and authentic development of peoples? It has already produced two deaths: that of the family, cradle of life and the other the one of youth.

Virgin Mary, Mother of the Redemption, Angels and Saints teach us true wisdom.