Herodias and Herodias
For more commentary on this week's readings, see the Reflections on the Lectionary page, which includes Moland-Kovash's current Living by the Word column as well as past magazine and blog content. For full-text access to all articles, subscribe to the Century.
Reading through the gospel for this week is sort of a horrific treat. The beheading of John the Baptist is nothing if not a great story—drama, intrigue, tension, conflict, resolution. Even as a flashback (“John, whom I beheaded, has been raised!”) to explain Herod’s response to Jesus’ ministry, it’s the kind of story one doesn’t want to read and yet cannot stop reading. But compelling as it is, I don’t necessarily want to preach about a head on a platter.
So where do you look, besides the violent end to John the Baptist? Do you raise the issue of Herod sticking to his oath, regardless of the cost? Is that an admirable trait, or in this instance a spineless move? Is there a sermon to be found in the near-unquenchable wrath of Herodias the wife, who we learn would just as soon kill John herself? Or the pawn-like role of Herodias the daughter?
