Monday 29 August

The Martyrdom of John the Baptist

Jeremiah 1:17-19; Ps 71; Mark 6:17-29

Persecuted in the cause of right

John the Baptist’s martyrdom can remind us of the eighth beatitude: “Happy are those persecuted in the cause of right: theirs is the Kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:10). John’s death came about because of unbridled exercise of power by Herod, prompted by Herodias’ fury. As John gave his life in witness to truth and justice, so may we strive to profess our faith in the Gospel. John’s words are: “He [Jesus] must grow greater, I must grow smaller” (John 3:30).