Saturday: 17^th Week in Ordinary Time-C

I Reading: Leviticus 25:1.8-17: In the year of Jubilee each of you is to return to his ancestral home.

Gospel: Matthew 14:1-12: Herod sent and had John beheaded. John’s disciples went off to tell Jesus.

The Messiah’s Forerunner is Murdered: A Godly vs. Ungodly

This passage is a portrait of a godly vs. ungodly man.

1. John’s mighty works vs. Herod’s guilty conscience (v.1-2)

a. Herod heard of Jesus’ miracles  or works

b. Herod feared John was risen from the dead

2. John’s righteous witness vs. Herod’s immoral life (v.3-4)

3. John’s godly testimony vs. Herod’s worldly and fearful ambition (v.5)

4. John’s denial of the world vs. Herod’s foolishness and fleshly lusts (6-8)

a. Seen in a woman’s shameless dance

b. Seen in Herod’s passionate lust

c. Seen in Herod’s weakness and subjection to his wife

5. John’s godly fate vs. Herod’s unholy pride and weakness (v.9)

6. John’s courageous end vs. Herod’s savage cruelty (v.10-11)

7. John’s joy and glory and vs. Herod’s doom (v.12-14)

a. John’s disciples buried him

b. Jesus was told about John’s death: He grieved and recreated, getting all alone

c. Jesus went forth

          1) with renewed compassion

          2) with renewed ministry

Thought: John was imprisoned, yet the Word of God continued; because the Word of God is active, alive, dynamic and life giving Word.

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