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Martyrdom of St. John the Baptist
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sec. The
John
seals its mission of precursor with martyrdom. Herod Antipas, imprigionatolo in the
fortress of Machaerus East to the Dead Sea, had him beheaded. He is the friend who rejoices
greatly at the bridegroom's voice and is eclipsed in front of Christ, sun of
justice: 'Now my joy is fulfilled; He
must increase, I must decrease '. At
his school they have formed some of the first disciples of the Lord. (Mess. Rom.)
Patronage: Monks
Emblem: Lamb,
Axe
Martyrology: Memory
of the Passion of St. John the Baptist, that King Herod Antipas held in
prison in the fortress of Machaerus in modern Jordan and the day of his
birthday, at the request of the daughter of Herodias, ordered him beheaded. For this, the Precursor of the Lord,
as burning and shining lamp, made both in life and death in witness to the
truth.
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Today's celebration, which in the
Latin Church is very old (in France in sec. And Rome in the V century. VI),
is linked to the dedication of the church built in Sebaste in Samaria, on the
alleged tomb of the precursor of Christ. Under
the name of "Passion" or "Decollatio" the party appears
already as of August 29, in the Roman Sacramentaries, and according to the
Roman martyrology that date corresponds to the second finding of the head of
St. John the Baptist, carried on that occasion in the church St. Sylvester in
Campo Marzio in Rome. Apart
from these historical references, we have the stories of the Baptist
Evangelists, especially St. Luke, which tells us about his birth, life in the
desert, his preaching, and St. Mark who tells us about his death.
From Gospel and tradition we can reconstruct the life of the Precursor, whose fiery speech seemed really animated by the spirit of the prophet Elijah. In the year 150 the Emperor Tiberius (27-28 AD), the Baptist, who led an austere life under the rules of separation, he began his mission, inviting the people to prepare the way of the Lord, which was necessary to accommodate a sincere conversion, that a radical change of the provisions of the soul. Addressing all social classes, he aroused enthusiasm among the people and discontent among the Pharisees, the so-called aristocracy of spirit, of whom reproached hypocrisy. Now popular character, resolutely he denied being the Messiah, claiming the superiority of Jesus that he pointed out to his followers at his baptism in the River Jordan. Her image appears to vanish fading affirmation "of the fittest", Jesus. However, "the greatest of the prophets" did not cease to make her voice heard where it was necessary to straighten "the winding paths" of evil. He tried again publicly the sinful conduct of Herod Antipas and Herodias in-law, but their susceptibility predictable cost him his harsh imprisonment at Machaerus, on the eastern shore of the Dead Sea. We know how it ended: at a party held in Machaerus, daughter Herodias, Salome, having given excellent agility trials in the dance, enthused Herod, who, at the instigation of her mother, asked and obtained from him a reward Baptist's head, thus putting to rest the tread of the Messiah, his voice stronger Auctioneers imminent Gospel message. Last prophet and the first apostle, he gave his life for his mission, and that is revered in the Church as a martyr. Author: Piero Bargellini |
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Friday, 4 February 2011
Mark
6:17-29 John the Baptist Beheaded
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The Russian Orthodox Convent of the
Ascension is located in the village of A-Tur on Mt Olives. According to
Orthodox tradition is the site where Jesus ascended to heaven 40 days after
resurrection.
A chapel behind the church
is dedicated to John the Baptist, and according to tradition his head was
found in a jar hidden in a cavity under the mosaic floor of an ancient
Armenian church.
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The Mass Gospel passage this morning has its larger
setting in the Solemnity of ‘John the Baptist Beheading’ at the end of August
29th.
In fact John the Baptist surfaces in the four Gospels,
there are 13 references in the Naverre Commentary.
I just pick one reference; “Later, the Apostle St. John
will speak of him in the Gospel: "There was a man sent from God, whose
name was John" ( Joh_1:6 );
but the sacred text points out that, despite this, he was
not the light, but rather
the witness to the light ( Joh_1:6-8 ). More correctly, ( Joh_5:35 )”.
He was the lamp carrying the light
It puts John the Baptist in his place.
The carrying of light in Candlemass liturgy links John
Baptist with the voice of Simeon, “The Light of the Gentiles.” Luk
2:32 a
light for revelation to the Gentiles.
As we ourselves are not the light but lamps.
Looking after the Sanctuary Lamp, I am indeed not to let
out the lamp to go out.
As being lamps of light, we have our ‘confiteor’ of our History of our Salvation at the beginning the Eucharist.
NOTE;
Dear, A C,
Thank you.
You introduced us to Decapolis from the Monday Gospel.
Today, Friday Gospel, leads on to another Jordan place of John the Baptist Beheading.
Megaerus lies south the Decapolis.
Interest Bible Geography.
Thank you.
D.
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Machaerus, Herod's Fortress
The Jordanian village of Mkawer, 25 miles southwest of Madaba, is home to the ruins of Machaerus, the Black Fortress, the place of execution |
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| Convent Russian Ascension Mt Olives |
----- Forwarded Message ----
From: A C ---
Sent: Tue, 1 February, 2011 15:52:58
Subject: Decapolis
Walking encyclopedia that you
are, you probably know already what I had to look up after yesterday's Gospel:
The names of the traditional Ten Cities of the Decapolis
come from the Roman historian
They are:
12.
Damascus, the capital of modern Syria; Damascus
was considerably north of the others and so is sometimes thought to have been
an "honorary" member.
According to other sources, there may have been as many
as eighteen or nineteen Greco-Roman cities counted as part of the Decapolis.
For example, Abila is very often
cited as belonging to the group.
The cities
Map of Roman Palestine with the Decapolis cities labeled
in black.
The oval forum and cardo of Gerasa (Jerash)
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| The-Decapolis-map |
iBreviary
SECOND READING
From a homily by Saint Bede the Venerable, priest
(Hom. 23: CCL 122, 354, 356-357)
Precursor of Christ in birth and death
Polycarp had known those who had known Jesus, and was a disciple of St. John the Apostle, who had converted him around the year 80 AD. He taught, says his own pupil Irenaeus of Lyons, the things that he learned from the Apostles, which the Church hands down, which are true. Irenaeus, who as a young boy knew Polycarp, praised his gravity, holiness, and majesty of countenance. He had lived near Jerusalem and was proud of his early associations with the Apostles.
"The memory of that time when as a youth I was with Polycarp in Asia Minor is as fresh in my mind as the present. Even now I could point to the place where he sat and taught, and describe his coming and going, his every action, his outward appearance, and his manner of discourse to the people. It seems as though I still heard him tell of his association with the apostle John and with others who saw the Lord, and as though he were still relating to me their words and what he heard from them about the Lord and His miracles. . . ."
