Proper 10B - July 16th 2006

Readings:

• Amos 7:7-15
• Psalm 85:8-13
• Ephesians 1:3-14
• Mark 6:14-29

Amos - an ordinary bloke - a shepherd and carer of sycamore fig trees - is shown a plumb line. He hears God telling him that the plumb line is going to be set against the Israel. They are not going to spared any longer because they are out true.

Plumb Line set against the city at Coventry Cathedral

Mark tells the story of the beheading of John the Baptist - a practice which seems to be getting more common. Herod liked to listen to John and protected him. His wife nursed a grudge against John though - because John had complained to herod about Herodias. "It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife."

head of John the Baptist

John Pridmore (Church Times) draws attention to the two passion narratives of Mark's Gospel. The Passion of John and the Passion of Jesus. We often refer to John as the one who prepares the way of Jesus, but not very often do we realise that it is the way of sacrifice which John prepares. Are we intended to see parallels between Herod and Pilate and between the way John's disciples also took charge of John's body and "laid it in a tomb".

Herod comes across as an ugly character. Herodias is not only his sister-in-law but also his niece. he is mixed up. He imprisons John but  finds him intriguing.  Then he makes a foolish promise to stepdaughter (spoilt) which he feels he should keep. His word and reputation were more important to him than John?s life. Herod is victim of his own foolish promise.