The Beheading of Saint John the Baptist
First reading: Jeremiah 1:17-19
God promises Jeremiah strength beyond human limits: “I will make you into a fortified city, a pillar of iron, and a wall of bronze.” These images speak of the transformation that happens when God is with us—fear gives way to courage, weakness becomes resilience, and frailty is clothed in divine power. This strength is not for self-protection but for faithful witness, even in the face of opposition and rejection. On this day we remember the beheading of Saint John the Baptist, a man who embodied this promise with his life. His voice did not falter before kings, nor did his integrity bend to public pressure; he stood firm as a witness to truth, even unto death. The prophet Jeremiah and John the Baptist remind us of that discipleship often demands courage to confront what is unjust and to remain faithful when the cost is high. God’s assurance is that we are never alone, He Himself makes us unshakable when we stand in His truth. Let’s reflect: Am I willing to let God make me strong and unshakable in faith, like Jeremiah and John the Baptist, so that I can stand for truth and remain faithful even when it is costly?
Don Giorgio