“But because of his oaths…” (Matthew 14:9)
Today’s gospel reading recounts how King Herod, at his birthday banquet,
asked his niece, Salome to dance for him and drunkenly promised to give her
whatever she asked for. To his great dismay, she asked for John the Baptist’s
head on a platter. Herod was greatly sorrowed by this, but relented since he
“gave her his word.”
This is good reminder for us to watch what comes out of our mouth and to
make certain that we don’t make false promises, promises we cannot possible
keep, and/or promises which might prove detrimental in the long run. That is
undoubtedly why St. James wrote in his epistle, “Above all, brethren, do not
swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath…” (5:12).
Fr. John
Δεν υπάρχουν σχόλια:
Δημοσίευση σχολίου