6 Feb 26 | When Conscience Is Silenced
Herod does not reject John the Baptist because he doubts the truth, but because he lacks the courage to obey it.
The Gospel: Mark 6:14-29
King Herod heard about Jesus, for his fame had become widespread,
and people were saying,
“John the Baptist has been raised from the dead;
that is why mighty powers are at work in him.”
Others were saying, “He is Elijah”;
still others, “He is a prophet like any of the prophets.”
But when Herod learned of it, he said,
“It is John whom I beheaded. He has been raised up.”
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.
Herodias 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.
His 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?”
Her mother 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.
Today’s Focus
Herod’s response to John the Baptist exposes the danger of recognizing truth without obeying it. Political power preserves itself by silencing conscience, while prophetic faithfulness accepts loss rather than compromise. This Gospel confronts the reader with a hard question: whether faith is anchored in outcomes or sustained by obedience even when truth leads to suffering and silence.
In the Margins
In this passage, we hear from and about Herod Antipas. This is not the king of Israel but a Roman-appointed ruler. His authority is political, not moral. This is the Herod who had imprisoned John the Baptist and eventually had him beheaded. Herod is very unstable. He arrested John, listened to him, feared him, protected him, and eventually executed him. Herod’s instability reveals a ruler divided between fear of truth and fear of consequence.
Of note, there is a similarity here with the passion of Jesus. Herod and Pilate both acknowledge the holiness of life of one over whom he unjustly exercises the power of condemnation and death. They both take the path of choosing political survival over moral obedience. Herod’s actions towards John parallel that of Jewish leaders towards Jesus.
John’s fidelity to Torah places him in inevitable conflict with unlawful power. He would have known that calling out Herod would have consequences. In doing such, he was standing with prophetic tradition, confronting kings when covenant law is violated. John was not willing to negotiate truth, he declared it, which ultimately led to his demise.
Drawing back to the parallel of Jesus, John is not rescued. His disciples do not stage some big jail break, there is not a miraculous saving, just John dying in faith. His disciples come and bury him quietly.
Each of the wrong identifications that is given to Herod is based on Old Testament expectations that God would act decisively through a prophet. Herod does not join their speculation, he confesses his guilt. Herod does not fear Jesus at this point, he fears what he has done with beheading John.
This Gospel leaves us with the unsettling truth that faithfulness does not guarantee rescue, recognition, or visible success. John speaks the truth, remains obedient, and dies quietly, without vindication in this life. His witness forces an honest examination of whether our trust in God depends on outcomes, or whether it can endure when obedience leads only to loss. The question this passage presses is not whether we admire courage or holiness, but whether we are willing to remain faithful when faith carries a real cost.
Reflection Question
Where do you recognize God’s truth, yet hesitate to obey it because of cost, reputation, or fear?
A Small Invitation
If this reflection helped you, consider sharing it with someone who may be carrying more than they were meant to.