August 29, 2025 Friday of the Twenty-first Week in Ordinary Time
Memorial of the Passion of Saint John the Baptist
Daily Readings: 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8; Matthew 6:17-29
One cannot afford to live just anyhow or somehow. The one who searches for meaning in life knows that one has to live with the attitude of “this is how.” A believer should know how to live and to please God. The Thessalonians were already living as they ought to, yet St. Paul urges them to do even more. Doing the bare minimum may indicate some kind of slackness or amount to doing things merely for the sake of doing them.
Our vocation is holiness. Therefore, we must shun anything that hinders our sanctification. St. Paul instructs the Thessalonians to avoid fornication, lustful passions, and every kind of sexual immorality. The holiness of marriage should always be respected. The human body is the temple of the Holy Spirit and has its own dignity and language. It should never mislead a person. Rejecting any command of God is equivalent to rejecting God Himself.
The vocation of John the Baptist was a challenging one. He could not remain silent when he noticed that Herod Antipas had married Herodias, the wife of his half-brother, Herod Philip. He condemned this unlawful union. Because of this, Herodias had John arrested and imprisoned, even though Herod recognized him as a righteous and holy man. In fact, Herod enjoyed listening to him. But Herodias devised her plan well. On Herod’s birthday, after the dance of Salome, Herodias’ daughter, and Herod’s reckless promise made in a drunken state, the opportunity came for Herodias to take revenge. John the Baptist, who stood between her and Herod Antipas, was beheaded.
Though Herod grieved over his oath, his ego prevented him from changing his mind. The presence of his guests and his position as tetrarch did not allow him to save the life of a righteous man or defend the truth. John the Baptist was killed, but truth triumphed that day.
Call to Action: John the Baptist risked his life by speaking the truth. He was a true prophet. Am I afraid to speak the truth? How do I respond in those moments when I hesitate to stand for what is right?
Radio Veritas Asia (RVA), a media platform of the Catholic Church, aims to share Christ. RVA started in 1969 as a continental Catholic radio station to serve Asian countries in their respective local language, thus earning the tag “the Voice of Asian Christianity.” Responding to the emerging context, RVA embraced media platforms to connect with the global Asian audience via its 21 language websites and various social media platforms.
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