There was a great scandal in the region of Galilee when Herod Antipas fell in love with his brother's wife, nearly 2,000 years ago. Herod married Herodias and this union was clearly unlawful and immoral.
John the Baptist proclaims that King Herod is not keeping the law, so Herod has John imprisoned.
Herod holds a great birthday feast for himself and he invites the powerful, the wealthy, the beautiful, the popular and the influential. Herod's feast reflects his worldly political Kingdom and Rome’s Empire.
As the merriment of drinking, dancing, and feasting take place, John the Baptist sits below in a dark dungeon because he righteously stated that the King was not following the Law of Moses. After the daughter of Herod's wife dances and pleases the guests, Herod shows off and boasts to glorify himself. He makes an oath to give the young lady anything she desires.
Herod is distressed when she asks for the head of John the Baptist. But he is too prideful and not willing to lose face in front of his guests by not honouring his word. And so he murders John the Baptist and brings his head on a platter to the daughter of Herodias. In this story we see the corruption of Herod's Kingdom. Herod holds a feast to honor himself and the corruption of power, wealth, and pride lead to the gruesome murder of God's Prophet, John the Baptist.
In the very next passage in Mark's Gospel, Chapter 4, Jesus holds a feast. Thousands of people run from the surrounding towns to see Jesus. Jesus does not hold an exclusive feast by inviting high officials, military commanders and the leading men of Galilee. All who want to come run to see Jesus because they are hungry for the Word of God. Jesus himself is the Word of God. Jesus preaches about the Kingdom of God, that is, God’s reign on earth as it is in Heaven. It's getting late and the people have no food to eat. So Jesus demonstrates that God's Kingdom is at hand when he multiplies 5 loaves and 2 fishes to feed five thousand people.
John the Baptist as prophet proclaims that Herod must follow the Law of Moses. In the Kingdom of God, in God’s reign on Earth as it is in heaven, Jesus inspires and writes the law on our hearts by feeding us.
The real miracle in Jesus’ feast is not that the loaves and fish are multiplied, but that we are called to feed one another, and that 5,000 hungry people, at a time of disease, oppression, and famine, come together share a meal.
The Lord’s Supper inspires generosity and writes the Law on our hearts. It inspires us to love God and love Neighbor. God changes us in ways we cannot change ourselves.
Which feast would you like to hold in Parish? Which feast would you choose to attend?
- Rev. Jon Lavelle
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