Great Lengths – Br. Luke Ditewig
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Br. Luke Ditewig
The Beheading of John the Baptist
2 Chronicles 24:17-21
2 Corinthians 4:5-11
Mark 6: 17-29
What gruesome stories of prophets stoned in the temple and beheaded for a banquet. I long assumed this was by accident and terrible coincidence: the king’s huge offer, the daughter running to her mother, the request, and the display.
The TV series The Chosen tells it differently, perhaps more realistically. Herodias, knowing Herod’s ways, schemed this opportunity, prompted her daughter to learn an amazing dance guided by a teacher, arranged for her dance at this banquet, and instructed her to make the request. A perfect plot. As in so many popular thriller stories, one goes to great lengths for revenge.
John was in prison for telling Herod he was wrong to marry his brother’s wife. John spoke hard truths to God’s people and to oppressive power: confess sin, return to God, and live right. We remember martyrs like John who were killed for their faith. Martyr means witness: testifying to the truth one has seen and known. Justice depends on truthful witnesses. John went to great lengths declaring what he knew, the call to turn from wrong and follow God.
Testifying to truth, bearing witness, is also to listen, see, and acknowledge another’s truth. We bear witness to hurt and sorrow, wrong and failure, dreams and heartbreak. To witness and to be witnessed is mutually vulnerable and risky. As St. Paul wrote, we are like clay jars prone to breaking (2 Corinthians 4:7-11).
Being seen, known – being witnessed – prompts healing. Being witnessed shifts our body chemistry toward repair. John prepared the way and pointed to Jesus, to God who goes to the greatest length to salvage, rescue, redeem, transform, and restore.
To what length have you gone or dreamed to inflict pain on one who hurt you?
To what length has another gone to bear witness to your truth, your pain?
How have you been blessed to bear witness?
Speak the truth. Be witnessed. Bear witness. Go to great lengths to heal. Blessed John the Baptist, whom we remember today.