Misplaced Trust

Gospel: Mark 6: 17-29

Throughout the scriptures we can find repeated exhortations not to trust princes and political leaders.  Today's feast reminds us in stark terms why that is the case.  Herod respected John the Baptist, but not enough to spare his life or release him from prison.  Herod's power, his pride, and standing with family and friends were all more important than John's life and the truth that he carried within him.  We will see this same dynamic repeated between Pilate and Jesus.

But some will object: that won't happen when "the right people" are put in office (here read: our people, or us).  Yet the entire Old Testament stands as a via negativa of what not to do.  Israel became a kingdom and was no better than other kingdoms.  The so-called glories of Christendom were filled with bloodshed, torture, and adultery.  And each time the episcopacy anoints a new strong man regime to allegedly safeguard the interests of the Church it ends in disaster not long after the oil has dried.  

The world is a desert and it is our lot to pass through it as pilgrims caring for one another along the way.  The desert is composed of sand where nothing of permanence can be built, for our permanence lies in our destination.  Mirages and sirens will seek to lure us away with promises of comfort and security and strength of political leaders.  But these are lies.  Our citizenship is heaven, and our only comfort and security is the Lord Jesus, his love and example.