“Today we remember the Passion of Saint John the Baptist. And when I read this Gospel, I cannot help noticing something interesting: it is a story about men and the different ways men use strength.
There is John the Baptist, a prisoner with no political power, yet morally strong.
There is Herod, a king with tremendous power, yet personally weak.
And there are the important men sitting around Herod’s table, watching everything happen but apparently saying nothing.
Perhaps this Gospel gives us three challenges, especially for men today.
Be a man of conviction, not convenience
John tells Herod directly: “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.”
John could have kept quiet. He could have said, “That’s Herod’s private life. It’s none of my business.” But John knew that truth remains truth even when the person violating it is powerful.
That is the first challenge for us today: Have convictions.
It is easy to be good when everybody around you is good. The real test comes when honesty becomes inconvenient. Can you remain honest when dishonesty can make you richer? Can you remain faithful when nobody will know? Can you refuse corruption when everybody tells you, “That’s just how things are done”?
John teaches us: A man of God does not change his principles simply because they become inconvenient.
Control your passions before they control you
Herod is one of the most powerful men in the Gospel. He has soldiers. He has wealth. He has authority. But strangely, Herod is not free. He is controlled by desire. Controlled by pride. Controlled by public opinion. Controlled by his own foolish promise. Herod can command soldiers, but he cannot command himself.
And perhaps this is one of the great challenges for men today.
You may be strong physically. You may be successful professionally. You may have money, influence, or authority. But can you control your anger? Can you control your drinking? Can you control your lust? Can you control your gambling? Can you control your ego?
Christian strength is not about controlling other people. It begins with learning to control ourselves. Sometimes the strongest man in the room is simply the man who has learned to say no to himself.
Do what is right, even when others are watching
When Herodias’ daughter asks for the head of John the Baptist, Mark tells us: “The king was deeply distressed.” Herod knew it was wrong. But he ordered John’s execution anyway. Why? The Gospel says: Because of his oaths and the guests.”
In other words: What will people think of me?
How many wrong decisions are still made today because of that question? Sometimes we know something is wrong, but our friends are watching. Our colleagues are watching. Our barkada is watching. And we don’t want to appear weak.
But sometimes the bravest words a man can say are: “No. This is wrong.” Or: “I made a mistake. I’m sorry.”
Look at the contrast. John loses his head but keeps his integrity. Herod saves face but loses himself.
And so perhaps the message of today’s feast is very simple: Better to lose people’s approval than to lose your conscience.
The man who returned the money
There is a story about a young employee who discovered that a large amount of money had accidentally been credited to his account.
Nobody seemed to notice.
His friends told him, “Keep quiet. That’s their mistake. Maybe this is your lucky day!”
For a young man struggling financially, the temptation was real. But the following morning, he went to his supervisor and reported the error.
The supervisor looked at him and said, “You could have kept quiet. Why did you come back?”
The young man answered: “Sir, I need the money. But I need my peace of mind more.”
That is strength.
Final Words
Saint John the Baptist had no palace, no army, no wealth, and eventually not even his freedom. But he possessed something Herod did not have: a free conscience.
Today, let us ask Saint John the Baptist to pray especially for our men—our fathers, husbands, sons, priests, leaders, and young men.
May God give us men who are not merely powerful, but principled. Men who are not controlled by their passions, but know how to master themselves. Men who are not afraid of what people will say, because they are more concerned about what God sees.”