Mc 6,14-29 – Saints Paul Miki, Presbyter and Companions, Martyrs – Memory
The sad story of the death of John the Baptist also serves as a backdrop to the memory of the holy martyrs Paolo Miki and companions. Every martyrdom is always a page of crime news, where however the light of God reverberates. And this is not because similar episodes can contain the light, but because the martyrs, with their life, their example and their testimony, they become a mirror of a light that conquers all darkness.
John the Baptist did not back down in the face of Herod’s threats and, paradoxically, was killed due to a court intrigue. Herodias can ask for the head of John the Baptist because Herod is a slave to pleasure and, because of pleasure, promised anything without realizing the danger. Certain lifestyles lead us to live beyond our strength and, very often, we find ourselves having to pay a very high price compared to our possibilities.
Not only does Herod commit a crime, but he kills a man who basically acted as his conscience. And what human life can be a life without a conscience? Today let’s ask ourselves if we have slavery that could make us make bad choices and, above all, let’s ask ourselves if we are still willing to listen to our conscience or if we always look for a way to get rid of her, in the illusion of living more freely, when instead, through her death, we lose all compass and all hope.
