8.01.14

Lectio :Mt 14.1-12                   

Meditatio: "Prompted by her mother, she said, ‘Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist.’  The king was distressed , but because of his oath and the guests who were present, he ordered that it be given.” Mt 14.8-9

Oratio: O God, You want us to keep our word but only if it is thoughtfully given.              

I remember King Herod gave his word to Herodias’ daughter that he would give her anything she wanted and backed it up with his oath. He then did an unpardonable act and had John the Baptist beheaded because he thought he had to keep his solemn word.  But He was mistaken. We are to keep our word and not set it aside lightly but set it aside when it is given without realizing the adverse consequences to another. In prayer seek the grace to be a person of integrity so that our yes means yes and our no means no and both are given with deep concern for the good of the other.

I ask this and all things in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with You
and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.

Contemplatio: spend some time in silence and meditate on the selected passage and hear what
God is saying to you.

Operatio: reflect: "king...because...oath...ordered...it”; we are to keep our word and not set it aside lightly but we should set it aside when given in haste without reflecting on adverse consequences to others. In prayer seek the grace to keep one’s promises and only set them aside if keeping them would result on unjust consequences to others. 

Tomorrow's reading: Mt 14.13-21