Readings:
I - Lev. 25: 1, 8-17,
II - Mt. 14: 1-12
DEDICATION OF THE BASILICA OF ST. MARY MAJOR IN ROME
In the Gospel passage today, John the Baptist courageously admonishes the unlawful act of King Herod, living with his brother’s wife. His words were powerful, piercing, disturbing and deterring both Herod and Herodias. Herodias plotted so well that she had the head of John the Baptist on the platter through her daughter. Have courage to stand up for what is right. If God chooses us to be His mouth piece, let us courageously do so with no fear of people who can kill the body but are unable to kill the soul (Mat. 10:28), like St. John the Baptist who dared to point the unlawful act of the king
Today the Church remembers the dedication of St. Mary Major Church, Rome, a great and gigantic church built in honour of Mother Mary. The site for the Church was chosen by the Blessed Mother herself through the miraculous snow fall at that site as she promised. The purpose of every church besides being a place of worship, glory, honour and praise to God, binds brothers and sisters in fraternity, unity and equality. St. Paul in his first letter to the Corinthians says, “Do you not know that your body is a temple of Holy Spirit within you” (1Cor. 6:19). We are the temple of God, called to be the sign of fraternity, unity and equality reflecting the presence of God. In this our living we become the worship, honour, glory and praise to God. This may inherit the wrath of the world upon us and the people of this world may hate, haul and hurt us but they can never prevail over us.
