The Martyrdom of Saint John the Baptist

Biography

In the 4th century, the Basilica was destroyed by pagans. Saint Mark tells us, in chapter 6, the details of this martyrdom. The evangelist John explains to us, in chapter 3, 22-30, the reason why John the Baptist was not afraid to publicly attack the scandalous life of King Herod Antipas. The precursor was the "friend of the groom" and, because of this deep love, he did not mind "losing his life." "IT IS NOT ALLOWED FOR YOU TO LIVE WITH YOUR BROTHER'S WIFE," John the Baptist told Herod to his face. In the heart of the man chosen by God in the womb of his mother Elizabeth, zeal burned for the observance of the commandments. Juan knew that to rebuke the powerful was to risk one's own life. The fate of prophets is difficult. Being a prophet, Guardini says, means saying in his time against his time, what God commands to be said. Jesus praises John the Baptist with the words: "There is not among those born of a woman a prophet greater than John. But the least in the kingdom of God is greater than he." In the bloody spectacle of the death of the innocent prophet we see all the perversion of the fallen man and the godless woman. John especially defended the sanctity of marriage. The Church of our day must also continue this testimony and say clearly: "It is not permitted to you." Certainly the Church loves those who err, but hates error. When the world settles for a comfortable morality and wants to deny the validity of divine law, the prophetic voice has to rise. No marital problem is resolved without the profound truth that Saint John pronounced: "He must increase and I must decrease." (Jn. 3,30)