NOTES for Mat 14:1-13

The ancient Persians thought that two equal powers, good and evil, act in the world. Pagans believed that among the various deities some are friendly to human beings and others hostile to them. But in reality there is only one God, and He is merciful. This Revelation is not as simple as it appears. We like to imagine scenes of an apocalyptic confrontation between good and evil; it looks more honorable to us to take part in a grand battle against a corresponding opponent. Therefore we take an allegorical description of the essence for a literal description of events.

Perhaps we have become so accustomed to life in hell that we do not see how monstrous the ordinary is. What small, empty things, in essence, led to the death of the greatest of those born of women, John the Forerunner! Well, this girl danced a provocative dance... Well, her mother wanted to maintain an appearance of respectability so that she would not be reproached for her marriage... The satanic snarl that suddenly appeared surprises us: "Give me John's head on a platter." But we, too, dispose of people's lives in exactly the same way over the most complete trifles. John was the Forerunner of Christ not only because he announced His coming and proclaimed Him. By his death he also foretold how petty envy and momentary political calculation would lead to the death of the Son of God.

When reading today's Gospel word, it is important to keep in mind that in our daily life we are the same Herodias, and our actions, dictated by petty and essentially pitiful interests, lead to catastrophic consequences.