Abusive Power (Mk 6:25) by Father Joe Coffey

07 Feb Abusive Power (Mk 6:25) by Father Joe Coffey

“The girl hurried back to the king’s presence and made her request, ‘I want you to give me at once on a platter the head of John the Baptist.’” ~ Mk 6:25 (full readings)

Father Joe’s Reflections:  Most of us know the details of the death of John the Baptist.  Herod shamefully honored his pledge to the daughter of Herodias who wanted John’s head on a platter.  As King, Herod had the power over life and death.  He abused that power.  John was an innocent man.  Justice Byron White in his dissent of Roe V. Wade called the decision an exercise in “raw judicial power.”  In an abortion, the powerful unjustly condemn the weak and most vulnerable among us.  We will never stop fighting this gross injustice.  St. John the Baptist, pray for us.
* Fr. Joe Coffey is a Navy Chaplain (video) and St. Louis LIFE Runners Chapter chaplain. He is stationed in St. Louis, MO as a Chaplain recruiter. When he’s not on the road, he can be found early on Saturday mornings, praying for Life at the local abortion mill.

Faith Challenge:  Pray for those in authority, “that we may lead a quiet and tranquil life in all devotion and dignity.” (1 Tim 2:2)

Counter-Culture News: LifeSiteNews, LifeNews, American Family, Vatican, Project Rachel..
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Our Prayers: Pray LIFE Runners Creed to End Abortion.  Add Prayers. Pray with meals, bedtime, wake up, unceasingly. Consider mid-week Family Rosary (17 min). Let’s pray now.
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Feast Day:  Saint Moses

Faith Quote:  “Those who live as though God sets the rules are not going by their own rules.  That is the self-sacrifice, or selflessness, that peace more often than not requires.  Those who insist on going by their own rules cannot make that sacrifice.  They are the steady adherents of (global) conflict because they are forever fighting both themselves and others to do whatever they think that they want to do.” ~ Criss Jami

Through Christ our Lord,
Father Joe
Jer 1:5