Today August 29

Today is the feast of the Martyrdom of St. John the Baptist. Almost unique among saints is John, as we celebrate both his birthday and his death date, his so-called "birthday into heaven." A few weeks after John was trying to convince his followers that Jesus, his kinsman, was "the real thing," he was arrested for publicly opposing the scandalous affair of King Herod Antipas, homewrecker. Herodias left her husband, Herod Philip, for his brother, Herod Antipas, and brought with her her charming daughter who may have been named Salome. They were from Rome, and Salome, at least, had learned some fancy dancing there. At Herod's birthday party, she performed a very fancy dance that delighted everyone to the point that Herod rashly promised her whatever she wanted, even up to half his kingdom. She went to her bitter mother, who suggested John's head. The daughter herself added the detail of the valuable platter; a girl's got to get something out of all that. Well, Herod's pride didn't allow him to reject her claim, though he held John in awe, and reluctantly he acceded to her request. Herodias was delighted when she saw the severed head; and according to St. Jerome, she even thrust a blade through its tongue. Brrr. That's cold. But Herod himself was tormented; he bore a guilty conscience until the end of his days. But our saint entered the glorious kingdom, the last prophet of the Old Dispensation became the first of the New. St. John the Baptist, pray for us.