HOW VANITIES CAN BLIND US - 02/03/23 (Memorial of Saint Blase, Bishop and Martyr)

Mark 6:20

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. 

For the full readings, click here: 

https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/020323.cfm

Blessed Memorial of St. Blaise! St. John the Baptist was a man with dignity, and he was truly devoted to God. Because of this, he was courageous in speaking against the adultery of King Herod despite the opposition he faced. Meanwhile, the opposite is the case with King Herod. There were times that he liked to listen to him, but the message of the Lord did not take root in his heart. After imprisoning St. John, he told his daughter that he would grant whatever she would ask. Unfortunately, when his daughter asked for the head of St. John the Baptist, King Herod still granted her request despite that uncomfortable feeling deep within him. Why did this happen with King Herod? What was the reason why he always made the wrong and grave decision despite being able to hear a little bit of his conscience? One of the reasons was because he was blinded by his vanities. King Herod was attached with his riches, and because of this, he was content with his treasures and power to the point of neglecting the commandments of God. Even though he knew that St. John did not deserve to be imprisoned and to be beheaded, he was also consumed by his desire of getting approval from many people who were watching him and from his own daughter. These are vanities because these things do not help people in becoming closer to God, but instead, these are obstacles for union with Him and for our salvation. 

This is not just applicable in the life of King Herod because we can also see this happening today. Unfortunately, many people are living in our society where their lives are no longer centered on God, whether they're aware of it or not. Because of the level of technology that we have, prayers are often neglected by people, and others will rather choose to waste many of their time with unnecessary use of social media and the internet. We are also living in a materialistic world in such a way that it seems success is the ultimate goal of people. When we no longer have the intentional goal of serving God everyday, we may lose sight of what's important, including our salvation. For some people, because they place their value on material things, they may end up living in accordance with worldly ways that are contrary to the will of God such as going to bars, being drunk, engaging in contraception, lust, and other sins. Despite all of these things, what we can see in the life of King Herod is the mercy of God. Despite our sins in the past, God still calls us and invites us to a life of repentance. He speaks to us through our conscience, and He may reveal to us our sins because He wants us to have eternal life. What are the things we are hoping for? Are they consistent with the will of God? Do we still have the desire to intentionally serve God, love Him and avoid sins everyday? May we choose to listen and obey the voice of Christ within our hearts because God is our light in the times of darkness. 

Amen +

Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, be with us always until the hour of our death. Amen. +

May the Lord + bless us, protect us from all evil and bring us to everlasting life. Amen. +  

Reflection by: Dominic

Saint Blase, Bishop and Martyr—Optional Memorial:

https://sanctoral.com/en/saints/saint_blaise.html

Examination of Conscience and Guide to Sacrament of Confession:

https://mycatholic.life/catholic-prayers/examination-of-conscience/

Ultimate Catholic Parents Guide:

https://youtube.com/watch?v=Ls6IcexZAls

Summary and Defense of Catholic Teachings:

https://www.catholic.com/tract/pillar-of-fire-pillar-of-truth