This will be a fitting time to meditate cn the death of S. John the Baptist When, then, that most wicked Herod and his infamous adulteress had, perhaps, conspired together to put him to death, that he might no longer reproach them, it happened that at a feast day, when the wretched daughter, Herodias, danced and pleased Herod, that the head of John the Baptist was granted her. And accordingly he was beheaded in the prison. Behold how great a man the Baptist was, and how shamefully and unjustly he fell beneath the tyranny of a reign of wickedness. O God, how was it that Thou didst permit this? What shall we think of John dying in this manner — John, whose perfection and sanctity were so great that he was mistaken for Christ? If, then, it is your mind to enter into this subject, consider first the baseness of his murderers, and then the greatness of John and his singular eminence, and you may well call out the affection of wonder.
You have heard, in a former chapter, how John was commended by our Lord in many respects ; hear now what S. Bernard says of him. “The first Church1 of all, after the names of the Saviour, takes that of S. John. It was, indeed, fit that the singular friend of the Bridegroom should also be exalted with His Spouse, the Church. Peter was crucified, Paul was beheaded, yet the dignity of precedence was given to the Forerunner. Rome is empurpled with the blood of martyrs, and sublime honours were bestowed on that holy patriarchate. Still John stands pre-eminent, with a singular greatness, and wonderful above all.
“Who so gloriously announced ? Who so filled with the Holy Ghost in his mother’s womb ? Who is said to have leapt with joy when yet unborn ? Whose nativity does the Church celebrate as his ? Who ever so loved solitude ? Who ever conversed with others so sublimely ? Who first preached penitence and the kingdom of heaven? Who baptized the King of Glory? To whom was the Trinity so clearly revealed? To whom did the Lord Jesus Christ ever give such testimony? Whom has the Church so honoured? John is a patriarch; yes, the end and chief of Patriarchs. John is a prophet, yea, more than a prophet, because he not only foretold, but pointed out Christ John is an angel, yes, elect among angels, for the Saviour testifies, saying, ‘ Behold, I send My Angel,’2 etc. John is an apostle, yes, first and foremost amongst Apostles, the first man ‘sent from God .’34 John is an Evangelist, yes, the first herald of the Gospel, a preacher preaching the Gospel of the kingdom of God. John is a Virgin, yes, a remarkable mirror of virginity, a type of modesty, a pattern of chastity. John is a Martyr, and more, the light of martyrs — between the Birth and Death of Christ, an heroic form of martyrdom. He is ‘the voice of one crying in the wilderness,’ 8 the Forerunner of the Judge, the Herald of the Word.’ He is Elias — ‘ the law and the prophets were until John;’ he is ‘a burning and a shining light ’5 I pass by in silence his relation to the nine orders of angels, and the more than Seraphic dignity with which he is invested .”6 Thus far S. Bernard. Hear now his praises by Peter Chrysogonus, 6 Archbishop of Ravenna, in a certain sermon in which he says, “John is a school of virtues, the master of spiritual life, a pattern of sanctity, a rule of justice,” etc. If, then, you contrast John’s pre-eminent dignity and sanctity with the depth of their villainy who murdered him, you will indeed find matter for wonder and indignation, if such a thing were allowable, with God. For to what and how great a personage is the common executioner sent, as if to some vile and infamous assassin or plunderer. Regard the Baptist, then, reverently and with sorrow ; how he prepares his neck at the bidding of the worthless and abominable executioner, how humbly he bends his knees, and, giving thanks to God, lays his sacred head upon the block or stone, and patiently receives the strokes until it is severed from his body. Behold, such is the end of John, the intimate friend and near relative of the Lord Jesus, in whom were lodged the deep secrets of God. With what great shame ought his example to affect us, who lose patience in the slightest trials ? John, who was innocent, met death — and such a death, too — with patience ; and we, who are for the most part guilty of great sins, and deserve the wrath of God, are not able to bear the smallest injuries and grievances, nay, not even injurious words.
The Lord Jesus was at that time in Judaea, but not near that part. When the death of John was reported to Him, our Divine Lord wept for His champion and relation ; the disciples also wept w r ith Him, and, possibly, so did the Blessed Virgin, who had received him at his birth, and had always most tenderly loved him. We can imagine how the Lord consoled His mother, and her lament, “My Son, why did You not defend him from such a death ?” and the reply, “Loving mother, such a defence would not have been expedient; for he has died for My Father, and on behalf of His Just Law, but he will quickly be in glory. For the Father Himself does not purpose to defend His own in this world in such a manner ; because they are not long to continue here — their country is not here, but in heaven. John is now freed from the chains of the flesh ; nor can he die any more. The enemy raged against him as far as he could, but he shall reign with My Father for ever. Therefore, dearest mother, be consoled, for it is well with John for ever.” Some days after this, the Lord Jesus left those parts and returned to Galilee. Dwell, then, on all that we have said, and be in spirit present at those scenes, and meditate devoutly upon them, and whithersoever the Lord goes, go also.
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