14th Sunday Beheading of John the Baptist

Title

The Politics of God and the Politics of Man

Outline

The human being is a political animal it has been said

That means that we are made for community and need community to thrive

That also means that any community has structure, relationships and defines the right thing to do in relation to these relationships

Thus we get John the Baptist, whom we celebrate today

He was subject to the Torah, to God as supreme, and was calling others into this life of obedience

Herod Antipas (ruled 4BC - 39AD) also claimed allegiance to God and generally followed the Torah; this was also politically expedient

Now watch the relationship triangles form:

Herodias had been married to Herod’s brother Philip and had maneuvered herself into a marriage with Herod because his kingdom was more important

On the basis of a claim to shared faith, John points out that the marriage to a brother’s former wife, a wife who had probably divorced her husband, ran against the Torah

That sets up a mortal conflict between Herodias and John and puts Herod in a triangle in which he seeks to appease Herodias by imprisoning John and also maintain a respectful relationship with John by listening to him

Herodias wins the head of John by using her daughter to trap Herod between his honor status in the sight of his nobles and his respect for John. Honor trumps justice, for honor was the greatest value in the Graeco-Roman world.

While John seems to loose, ultimately he wins, for today John who did not seek personal power (Acts 13:25) is honored and Herod is viewed at beast as a weak ruler manipulated into injustice by his wife, whose later urgings for higher honor would later (perhaps 6 years) send him into exile.

That is the politics of human beings, a politics that sometimes enters the church. Power is the name of the game and the righteous man often loses.

Matthew gives us the politics of God

The king, God, graces his people with an invitation to the wedding of his Son (the bride is not even one of theirs) - this should increase their honor status, not his

These people at first shame the king by rejecting the invitation and then tolerate rebellion or openly rebel by shaming and killing the messenger

The king gives the people what they chose, death and destruction, alienation from the kingdom, but his grace reaches out to the unworthy, those not of honorable status, the outsiders to fill his wedding hall.

The final scene, however, has a person who did not accept a wedding garment, i.e. the king’s way of life, that the king would have provided. He is not an open rebel, but one who wants the benefits of the king without following the king. He gets what he chose - exile, the darkness outside

The chosen are those who submit to or truly follow the king, while the grace of the call goes out widely, even to those unworthy.

Notice that the relationships here are basically bilateral, not triangular. The king does not try to manipulate anyone, but gives. The story is not about his retaining honor, but his giving honor to all who chose loyalty to him.

There are lessons here for us

First, while we should watch out for other people trying to triangle us in or out, our concern should be to have a single loyalty, a pure loyalty to God, to Jesus. It may get us killed metaphorically or literally, but it is the way to honor before God

Second, while humans often seek their own advantage even when doing good to others, God is pure grace and goodness. He reaches out again and again, even if there comes a point when, for the best good of all involved, he gives people what they have chosen

Third, the church is a mixed bag. People have all been called by grace - none deserves to be there - but some have responded and put on the wedding garment and others want the benefits without the loyalty and acceptance of grace. Don’t let the mixed bag surprise you.

Finally, eventually those loyal to God, who really follow him, will be made clear and rewarded. The guy who snuck in without accepting a garment is tossed out. Those who submitted and accepted feast on under the benevolent eye of the king. Herod Antipas, not to mention Herodias, died in shame and his name exists in infamy, while John the Baptist may have lost his head in this life, but in the gospel context it more closely identifies him with Jesus, with whom he enjoys life and honor now and forever.

Readings

2 Corinthians 1:21-2:4

2 Corinthians 1:21–2:4 RSV2CE

21 But it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has commissioned us; 22 he has put his seal upon us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee. 23 But I call God to witness against me—it was to spare you that I refrained from coming to Corinth. 24 Not that we lord it over your faith; we work with you for your joy, for you stand firm in your faith. 1 For I made up my mind not to make you another painful visit. 2 For if I cause you pain, who is there to make me glad but the one whom I have pained? 3 And I wrote as I did, so that when I came I might not suffer pain from those who should have made me rejoice, for I felt sure of all of you, that my joy would be the joy of you all. 4 For I wrote you out of much affliction and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to cause you pain but to let you know the abundant love that I have for you.

Byzantine Lectionary (Revised Julian) 8-29-2021: Beheading of John the Baptist

EPISTLE

Acts 13:25–32

25  And as John was finishing his course, he said, ‘What do you suppose that I am? I am not he. No, but after me one is coming, the sandals of whose feet I am not worthy to untie.’

26 “Brethren, sons of the family of Abraham, and those among you that fear God, to us has been sent the message of this salvation. 27 For those who live in Jerusalem and their rulers, because they did not recognize him nor understand the utterances of the prophets which are read every sabbath, fulfilled these by condemning him. 28 Though they could charge him with nothing deserving death, yet they asked Pilate to have him killed. 29 And when they had fulfilled all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree, and laid him in a tomb. 30 But God raised him from the dead; 31 and for many days he appeared to those who came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are now his witnesses to the people. 32 And we bring you the good news that what God promised to the fathers,

Matthew 22:1-14

Matthew 22:1–14 RSV2CE

1 And again Jesus spoke to them in parables, saying, 2 “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a marriage feast for his son, 3 and sent his servants to call those who were invited to the marriage feast; but they would not come. 4 Again he sent other servants, saying, ‘Tell those who are invited, Behold, I have made ready my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves are killed, and everything is ready; come to the marriage feast.’ 5 But they made light of it and went off, one to his farm, another to his business, 6 while the rest seized his servants, treated them shamefully, and killed them. 7 The king was angry, and he sent his troops and destroyed those murderers and burned their city. 8 Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding is ready, but those invited were not worthy. 9 Go therefore to the streets, and invite to the marriage feast as many as you find.’ 10 And those servants went out into the streets and gathered all whom they found, both bad and good; so the wedding hall was filled with guests. 11 “But when the king came in to look at the guests, he saw there a man who had no wedding garment; 12 and he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment?’ And he was speechless. 13 Then the king said to the attendants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, and cast him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ 14 For many are called, but few are chosen.”

Byzantine Lectionary (Revised Julian) 8-29-2021: Beheading of John the Baptist

GOSPEL

Mark 6:14–30

14  King Herod heard of it; for Jesus’ name had become known. Some said, “John the Baptist has been raised from the dead; that is why these powers are at work in him.” 15 But others said, “It is Elijah.” And others said, “It is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old.” 16 But when Herod heard of it he said, “John, whom I beheaded, has been raised.” 17  For Herod had sent and seized John, and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodi-as, his brother Philip’s wife; because he had married her. 18 For John said to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” 19  And Herodi-as had a grudge against him, and wanted to kill him. But she could not, 20  for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and kept him safe. When he heard him, he was much perplexed; and yet he heard him gladly. 21 But an opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his courtiers and officers and the leading men of Galilee. 22 For when Herodi-as’ daughter came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests; and the king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will grant it.” 23  And he vowed to her, “Whatever you ask me, I will give you, even half of my kingdom.” 24 And she went out, and said to her mother, “What shall I ask?” And she said, “The head of John the Baptist.” 25 And she came in immediately with haste to the king, and asked, saying, “I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.” 26 And the king was exceedingly sorry; but because of his oaths and his guests he did not want to break his word to her. 27 And immediately the king sent a soldier of the guard and gave orders to bring his head. He went and beheaded him in the prison, 28 and brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl; and the girl gave it to her mother. 29 When his disciples heard of it, they came and took his body, and laid it in a tomb.

30  The apostles returned to Jesus, and told him all that they had done and taught.

Notes

Byzantine Lectionary (Revised Julian) 8-29-2021: Beheading of John the Baptist

SUNDAY, AUGUST 29, 2021 | FIXED FEASTS

BEHEADING OF JOHN THE BAPTIST

Dark Vestments

Matins Gospel Matthew 14:1–13

Epistle Acts 13:25–32

Gospel Mark 6:14–30

Beading of John the Baptist, Glorious Prophet