The TRUTH will set you free ...

     ... possibly even free of your head!  That's what happened to John, the Baptizer.  Having leaped for joy in the presence of the Messiah, having embraced his mission of being the proclaimer of the truth, having acknowledged the Christ in his cousin Jesus at the Jordon river, John spoke the Word of God and called all to repentance and renewal.  The power of the truth was appealing - Herod wanted to listen, but was afraid.  The power of the truth was disturbing because it made the sinner uncomfortable and angry.  The power of the truth was challenging, for it could not be ignored and demanded a response.

     Herod's response to John's challenge to turn from his sinful relationship was to pretend that he did not hear.  But Herodias heard.  She heard and was not amused.  She could not let John get away with it.  And she made sure that he paid.

     Thus John, the last of the great prophets and, by Jesus' own words, the greatest person born of a woman, lost his head.  In doing so, he gained his freedom and the joy of the Kingdom.  In his martyrdom, John championed truth and led the way to another death that brought freedom and joy to the entire world.  Again, he pointed the way to the one whose death and new life really mattered - the long awaited Messiah Jesus.

     Three of my assignments were at Saint John the Baptist parish in Scottdale, Pennsylvania, where I came to celebrate the life of the Baptist.  Six weeks in a deacon summer assignment thirty-nine years ago, six years as the associate pastor from 1978 through 1984, and eight and a half years as pastor from 2000 to 2008.  I love preaching, and I loved the example that John provided in that regard.  His task of "pointing the way to Jesus" was what I attempted to do.  I thank the good people of the parish and the town for their patience and love, and I pray for them daily.

     I may have shared this before, but aside from Joseph and Mary and John there are no other saints that celebrate more than one feast day.  In fact, the feast of a saint is usually the date of their entrance into new life - the date of their death.  There are only three exceptions, where the date of birth and the date of death are recognized:  Jesus (of course), Mary, whose birth is September 8th and death (falling asleep) we just celebrated on August 15th, and John, whose birth is honored in June and whose death is honored today in his martyrdom.