Death is a moment which belongs to the person

Who is not afraid of death among us?

Death has become so ripe of a topic today as we see death number rise from the Pandemic and that death penalty is back on the negotiation table once again.

Our Gospel today is a manifestation that death penalty can be abused and be shaped up for self-serving reasons; which might include the silencing of critics.

John the Baptist is a witness to this. Jesus himself was a witness to this human tendency to refuse and condemn criticisms. John and Jesus have to be condemned to death for speaking truth to power by powers that be.

However, the condemnation to death and the death brought about by the coronavirus to the people have controlled the narrative of the world today. Look at the news. Look at the propagandas. Look at the statistics. We are looking at the most obvious truth today: many people are dying and many people wish other to die.

Sad as it may sound, many people are dying and many people wish other to die.

Death by pestilence is the price a lot of people have to pay for incompetence and the lack for concern to human life. Murder have become the easy face of justice for people who choose to walk the way of vengeance and retribution.

But we are missing something very important here. What do we even know about death?

We only reflect upon death when someone else die or during all souls and saints days. Our Readings for today give us a chance today to reflect what is death all about.

In (directly intended murder) or deliberately letting people die of pestilence,

As it turns out, people are using death today in the following way:

D-ehumanization -death have become dehumanized in inhuman means of

death and inhumane treatment of human life.

We meant to die the natural way.

E-go-oriented. - Murder is oftentimes about revenge-oriented motives.

We were hurt or wronged to, and so we need to satisfy our

feelings of anger by murder.

A-vengement.-Death have become an easy justice for some that they think

murder is the greatest revenge.

T-ermination.-While it is true that death is the end of human life. It is never

up to us to end human life just because we don’t

feel like the other person.

H-elplessness.-we fuel the helplessness of the person.

And the murderer sends the message of hopelessness.

How should we looking at death as how God intended it to be?

D-ivine- It is a sacred moment of the separation of the body and the soul.

A time intended by God since we were born.

A time and momentum which belongs to us singularly.

E-exemplary- In as much as people saw in us or heard in us how to live, then

we show them how to die the way of God.

A-ward- Death is not a punishment but a reward of rest and communion with

God and fullness of life in Christ.

T-otality -Death must be a cosmic event. One dies in accordance to the will

of God and his/her will. Death is about the consent of the dying

person and the collaboration of the will of God with the role of

nature and time.

H-umanization of death. We are destined to die but we are destined to die

with dignity. Not being beheaaded, not being murdered, not

being tortured.

We are afraid of death because we are afraid of loneliness.

Death is the fear of being alone. Pope Benedict XVI tells us: “In truth—one thing is certain: there exists a night into whose solitude no voice reaches; there is a door through which we can only walk alone—the door of death. In the last analysis all the fear in the world is fear of this loneliness. Death is absolute loneliness. But the loneliness into which love can no longer advance is—hell.”

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FIRST READING

Jer 26:11-16, 24

The priests and prophets said to the princes and to all the people,

   “This man deserves death;

   he has prophesied against this city,

   as you have heard with your own ears.”

Jeremiah gave this answer to the princes and all the people:

   “It was the LORD who sent me to prophesy against this house and city

   all that you have heard.

Now, therefore, reform your ways and your deeds;

   listen to the voice of the LORD your God,

   so that the LORD will repent of the evil with which he threatens you.

As for me, I am in your hands;

   do with me what you think good and right.

But mark well: if you put me to death,

   it is innocent blood you bring on yourselves,

   on this city and its citizens.

For in truth it was the LORD who sent me to you,

   to speak all these things for you to hear.”

Thereupon the princes and all the people

   said to the priests and the prophets,

   “This man does not deserve death;

   it is in the name of the LORD, our God, that he speaks to us.”

So Ahikam, son of Shaphan, protected Jeremiah,

   so that he was not handed over to the people to be put to death.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM

Ps 69:15-16, 30-31, 33-34

R. (14c) Lord, in your great love, answer me.

Rescue me out of the mire; may I not sink!

   may I be rescued from my foes,

   and from the watery depths.

Let not the flood-waters overwhelm me,

   nor the abyss swallow me up,

   nor the pit close its mouth over me.

R. (14c) Lord, in your great love, answer me.

But I am afflicted and in pain;

   let your saving help, O God, protect me.

I will praise the name of God in song,

   and I will glorify him with thanksgiving.

R. Lord, in your great love, answer me.

“See, you lowly ones, and be glad;

   you who seek God, may your hearts revive!

For the LORD hears the poor,

   and his own who are in bonds he spurns not.”

R. Lord, in your great love, answer me.

GOSPEL

Mt 14:1-12

Herod the tetrarch heard of the reputation of Jesus

   and said to his servants, “This man is John the Baptist.

He has been raised from the dead;

   that is why mighty powers are at work in him.”

Now Herod had arrested John, bound him, and put him in prison

   on account of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip,

   for John had said to him,

   “It is not lawful for you to have her.”

Although he wanted to kill him, he feared the people,

   for they regarded him as a prophet.

But at a birthday celebration for Herod,

   the daughter of Herodias performed a dance before the guests

   and delighted Herod so much

   that he swore to give her whatever she might ask for.

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 the guests who were present,

   he ordered that it be given, and he had John beheaded in the prison.

His head was brought in on a platter and given to the girl,

   who took it to her mother.

His disciples came and took away the corpse

   and buried him; and they went and told Jesus.