Caravaggio's painting of the beheading of John the Baptist on this day when the Church recalls the martyrdom of the person Jesus called the "greatest man born of woman," may make the event more meaningful for us. The readings for the day, not selected on the USCCB's site, are as follows: Jeremiah 1:17-19 and Mark 6:17-29.

FYI "John" ("Yahweh is gracious") and his mission are not only recorded in the New Testament writings but by the Jewish historian, Josephus.

I chose this set of readings rather than the Ordinary Time readings because the death of Jeremiah and John the Baptist can be for us today sources of support. Basically the two readings point to the challenges a prophet must expect in life. While most of us do no look upon ourselves as prophets, there is a part of our baptismal reality that calls us to give witness to the life and mission of Jesus Christ. It is this reality that puts before us the challenge in our world today.

John gave his life not in protesting something of the state laws or in contradicting the established religion. John's life was taken because an angry queen demanded his life for the moral life he was preaching.

For us today, being a "prophet" does not mean, necessarily, that we are opposing our government --- although at times some may feel the need to do that --- or opposing our religion or another religion. Being a prophet today means that we proclaim the gospel message and values as well as the teachings of the Church in the way we live our lives. The call to sanctity for us today is not easy: the Ten Commandments and the teachings and laws of the Church define us as followers of Jesus Christ.

As with all the prophets through the centuries, we also enjoy the promise of the same support: God will be with us. Do you really believe what Jeremiah wrote that God said to him: "... for I am with you to deliver you"?