The Word God Spells

John 15: 18-21
Acts 16: 1-10 / Ps 100: 1b-2. 3. 5

I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.
(John 15:19)

How can the choice be hard to make,
Between life or death, wealth or grace?
Let us not make the grave mistake
To love this world and lose the race.

(Jesus said), “If the world hates you, know that it hated me first. If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you do not belong to the world, and I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, `No servant is greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you; if they kept my word, they will keep yours also. And they will do all this to you on account of my name, because they do not know the one who sent me.” (John 15: 18-21)

Reflection

There is no gray area here. We cannot have one and enjoy the other as well. As Jesus so clearly pointed out, “No one can serve two masters. He will either hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon” (Mt.6:24). We also read in the first letter of John: “Do not love the world or the things of the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him” (1 John 2:15). St. James echoes the same message: “Do you not know that to be a lover of the world means enmity with God? Therefore, whoever wants to be a lover of the world makes himself an enemy of God” (James 4:4).

What is the “world” being referred to here? It is everything in this life that appeals to our carnal desires, or those “of the flesh”. St. Paul wrote in his letter to the Romans: “For the concern of the flesh is hostility towards God; it does not submit to the law of God, nor can it; and those who are in the flesh cannot please God” (Romans 8:7-8). It is only when we have learned to “crucify” our material or carnal concerns and detach ourselves from the pleasures of the world that the Spirit of God can dwell in us.

Ultimately (if we still remain bull-headed), God may take the initiative, and that is when we will experience the pain of purification. Many times in our brotherhood’s assemblies, we have heard testimonies of personal conversions to a more meaningful relationship with God, but only after the speaker(s) experienced a reversal of fortunes, like bankruptcy, a life-threatening illness, imprisonment, or even the loss of a loved one. This is the other kind of ‘persecution’ that our Lord is referring to in this Gospel passage.

St. Paul warns us: “Do not be conformed to this world” (Rom. 12:2). The world is Satan’s domain (his playground, really). At every opportunity he lures us into the false belief that our worldly concerns take precedence over everything in our life. Even above our moral standards and spiritual goal. “But do not be led astray,” St. Paul says, “Bad company corrupts good morals” (1Cor. 15:33). Instead, let the Word of God guide us always in the proper conduct of our lives, and the Holy Spirit will shield us from the evils of this world.

Loving Father, we thank You for the guidance and inspiration that we find in Your Word, the Bible. Grant us the grace to persevere in conforming ourselves to all the values taught by our Lord Jesus Christ in the Gospel, so that Your Spirit may always abide in us. Amen.

Matthew 14: 1-12
Lv 25:1.8-17 / Ps 67

On Herod’s birthday, the daughter of Herodias danced for them and pleased Herod so much that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked.
(Matthew 14:6)

Beware of a dancing girl’s sway,
Her passion can burn like hot coal;
Take care her steps lead you astray,
Like Herod you might lose your soul.

At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the reports about Jesus, and he said to his attendants, “This is John the Baptist; he has risen from the dead! That is why miraculous powers are at work in him.” Now Herod had arrested John and bound him and put him in prison because of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, for John had been saying to him: “It is not lawful for you to have her.” Herod wanted to kill John, but he was afraid of the people, because they considered him a prophet. On Herod’s birthday, the daughter of Herodias danced for them and pleased Herod so much that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked. 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 oaths and his dinner guests, he ordered that her request be granted and had John beheaded in the prison. His head was brought in on a platter and given to the girl, who carried it to her mother. John’s disciples came and took his body and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus.

Reflection

The beheading of an innocent man who was considered a prophet by the people at the time was the most vile deed by a man of power and considerable influence. And what made it even more heinous was because it was carried out for a dancing girl whose shameless and lewd performance extracted a reward foolishly promised. King Herod must have been intoxicated by so much wine and merriment that he was even willing to give half of his kingdom (Mk.6:23). A sinful dancing act led to an even greater sin – the murder of a holy man of God.

Like King Herod, many men and women of wealth and influence (even of good social standing) have seen their fortunes and/or reputations take a bad turn because of the combination of alcohol and lewd dancing. In the past, marital problems were caused only by the husbands, who frequented bars or nightclubs for male entertainment. Once they have more than they can drink, they lose control over their passions (and their money). Today, women have also found their own nocturnal entertainment apart from their husbands. Ballroom dancing has become so popular that “dancing instructor” has assumed a new and lucrative “profession”. Quite a number of modern dances like Samba, Foxtrot, Lambada, and belly dancing, with their indecent body movements are no different from the lewdness of Salome’s (Herodias’ daughter) dancing. The “Art of Dance” is described by Encyclopedia Brittanica: “Because of its physical appeal, dance lends itself to erotic purposes . . . practiced by both sexes.” Many a “D.I.” have been slapped, punched, and even shot by irate jealous husbands.

Whatever “modern thinking Christians” might say about the forms of dancing found in dark nightspots today, it is still morally dangerous to expose ourselves to pleasurable acts that can lead to depravity and sinful consequences. Our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit which we must safeguard at all costs. St. Paul said it so clearly: “I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship” (Rom.12:1); “Put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the desires of the flesh” (Rom.13:14).

Lord, make us dance only for joy, in praise and in song, to worship You in Your glory, and to thank You for all our blessings, in Jesus’ Holy Name. Amen.