"Taking a Stand for the Truth" - by Bro. Glenn dela Cruz

-


Martyrdom of St. John the Baptist
Gospel: Mark 6:17-29

In the Gospel of Mark, we witness the story of the death of St. John the Baptist at the hands of King Herod. This narrative presents a profound conflict—a struggle between truth and falsehood, between good and evil. John the Baptist is a portrait of courage and steadfastness in the face of lies and wickedness. He was unafraid to speak out against the wrongdoings of Herod and Herodias, even at the cost of his life.

The first lesson we can draw from this story is the importance of standing firm in the truth. It is easy to turn a blind eye and remain silent when the truth is being suppressed, but a true follower of Christ is called to stand up against evil. John the Baptist stood firm even though he knew it might cost him his life. Our commitment to the truth should be the same in our own time. In the face of challenges—corruption, lies, false teachings, and immoral living—we are called to be the light and salt of the world.

Secondly, we see Herod's weakness in the Gospel. Although he listened to John the Baptist and knew him to be a righteous man, he still chose evil because of his weakness and fear of others' opinions. Our actions have consequences. Choosing good requires courage and strength, especially when it is unpopular or opposed by the majority. The story of St. John the Baptist reminds us that goodness, even when accompanied by sacrifice, carries a blessing from God.

More than just the story of a murder, the Gospel teaches us about courage—courage to stand up for God and His teachings, even if it brings persecution or death. Not everyone is called to martyrdom like St. John the Baptist, but we are all called to be faithful and true to our faith, in both small and great matters.

In the end, true victory is achieved not through power or wealth, but by living in accordance with truth and goodness. St. John the Baptist showed that a life filled with courage and a stand for God is a life of true significance.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Memorial of the Queenship of Mary - by Bro. Glenn dela Cruz

-
Image
Sa ating pag-alaala sa Pagiging Reyna ni Maria tayo’y binibigyan ng pagkakataon na magnilay sa isang malalim na misteryo ng ating pananampalataya: ang pagkilala kay Maria bilang Reyna ng Langit at Lupa. Marami ang nagugulat sa pahayag na ito, partikular na ang mga hindi Katoliko, na minsang nagsasabing ito’y labis o walang batayan sa Bibliya. Ngunit ang katotohanan, ang karangalang ito ay hindi lamang isang tradisyon na walang laman; ito’y may ugat sa kasulatan, teolohiya, at pagkilala sa dakilang papel ni Maria sa plano ng Diyos para sa kaligtasan ng sangkatauhan. Ang Papel ni Maria sa Plano ng Kaligtasan Ang pagkilala kay Maria bilang Reyna ay hindi nagsisimula sa kanya, kundi sa kanyang Anak na si Hesus. Si Hesus ay Hari, hindi lamang dahil Siya’y Diyos, kundi dahil Siya’y mula sa lahi ni David, isang hari na pinangakuan ng Diyos na ang kanyang kaharian ay magpapatuloy magpakailanman (2 Samuel 7:16). Sa sinaunang Israel, ang ina ng hari—ang “Gebirah” o Reyna Ina—ay may natatanging k
Read more

The Triumph of Love: Reflecting on the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross - by Bro. Glenn dela Cruz

-
Image
 Every year on September 14, the Church celebrates the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, a solemn reminder of the profound mystery of our salvation. On this day, we are invited not only to honor the instrument of Christ’s victory but also to reflect on its deep meaning in our daily lives. The cross is often seen as a symbol of suffering and defeat, yet in Christianity, it becomes the sign of ultimate triumph and love. The Gospel of John tells us, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). The cross is not just an emblem of Christ's sacrifice; it is the means by which salvation was made available to all of humanity. The Cross: The Throne of God’s Love In the eyes of the world, the cross was an object of shame and humiliation. Jesus, the Messiah, was crucified—a form of execution reserved for criminals. But what the world saw as defeat was, in fact, God's great act of redemptio
Read more