ES JUAN, A QUIÉN YO DECAPITÉ, QUE HA RESUCITADO

Hebreos 13,1-8

Hermanos: Conservad el amor fraterno y no olvidéis la hospitalidad; por ella algunos recibieron sin saberlo la visita de unos ángeles. Acordaos de los que están presos, como si estuvierais presos con ellos; de los que son maltratados, como si estuvierais en su carne. Que todos respeten el matrimonio, el lecho nupcial que nadie lo mancille, porque a los libertinos y adúlteros Dios los juzgará. Vivid sin ansia de dinero, contentándoos con lo que tengáis, pues él mismo dijo: "Nunca te dejaré ni te abandonaré"; así tendremos valor para decir: "El Señor es mi auxilio: nada temo; ¿qué podrá hacerme el hombre?" Acordaos de vuestros dirigentes, que os anunciaron la palabra de Dios; fijaos en el desenlace de su vida e imitad su fe. Jesucristo es el mismo ayer y hoy y siempre.

Salmo 26

El Señor es mi luz y mi salvación, / ¿a quién temeré? / El Señor es la defensa de mi vida, / ¿quién me hará temblar? R.

Si un ejército acampa contra mí, / mi corazón no tiembla; / si me declaran la guerra, / me siento tranquilo. R.

Él me protegerá en su tienda / el día del peligro; / me esconderá en lo escondido de su morada, / me alzará sobre la roca. R.

Tu rostro buscaré, Señor, / no me escondas tu rostro. / No rechaces con ira a tu siervo, / que tú eres mi auxilio; / no me deseches. R.

Marcos 6,14-29

 

En aquel tiempo, como la fama de Jesús se había extendido, el rey Herodes oyó hablar de él. Unos decían: "Juan Bautista ha resucitado, y por eso los poderes actúan en él." Otros decían: "Es Elías." Otros: "Es un profeta como los antiguos." Herodes, al oírlo, decía: "Es Juan, a quien yo decapité, que ha resucitado." Es que Herodes había mandado prender a Juan y lo había metido en la cárcel, encadenado. El motivo era que Herodes se había casado con Herodías, mujer de su hermano Filipo, y Juan le decía que no le era lícito tener la mujer de su hermano.

Herodías aborrecía a Juan y quería quitarlo de en medio; no acababa de conseguirlo, porque Herodes respetaba a Juan, sabiendo que era un hombre honrado y santo, y lo defendía. Cuando lo escuchaba, quedaba desconcertado, y lo escuchaba con gusto. La ocasión llegó cuando Herodes, por su cumpleaños, dio un banquete a sus magnates, a sus oficiales y a la gente principal de Galilea. La hija de Herodías entró y danzó, gustando mucho a Herodes y a los convidados. El rey le dijo a la joven: "Pídeme lo que quieras, que te lo doy." Y le juró: "Te daré lo que me pidas, aunque sea la mitad de mi reino." Ella salió a preguntarle a su madre: "¿Qué le pido?" La madre le contestó: "La cabeza de Juan, el Bautista." Entró ella en seguida, a toda prisa, se acercó al rey y le pidió: "Quiero que ahora mismo me des en una bandeja la cabeza de Juan, el Bautista." El rey se puso muy triste; pero, por el juramento y los convidados, no quiso desairarla. En seguida le mandó a un verdugo que trajese la cabeza de Juan. Fue, lo decapitó en la cárcel, trajo la cabeza en una bandeja y se la entregó a la joven; la joven se la entregó a su madre. Al enterarse sus discípulos, fueron a recoger el cadáver y lo enterraron.

COMENTARIOS

1. Recomendaciones para la buena salud de la Iglesia

1.1 Como todo organismo vivo, la Iglesia debe velar por su salud. Esto lo consigue la Iglesia a través de los medios de defensa que Dios le ha dado, a saber, la oración, y la predicación. Por eso hay que cuidar que la oración esté viva y la palabra permanezca libre, luminosa y eficaz, como es la Palabra de Dios. Es lo que ha hecho el autor de esta Carta cuando nos ha exhortado a que no abandonemos nuestras asambleas (Heb 10,25).

1.2 Otro modo de ver esta misma realidad es pensar en lo que es un cuerpo vivo. No se guarda la salud sin cuidar de las células. Eso es lo que indica aquella amonestación que quiere salvaguardar a la familia, célula de todo el tejido social y eclesial: "que todos tengan gran respeto al matrimonio...".

1.3 Otro modo de ver esto es: para cuidar un cuerpo hay que dar especial atención a los tejidos más vulnerables y a las heridas o infecciones que apenas empiezan. Es lo que hace el autor inspirado cuando nos previene de las infecciones que suelen hacernos más daño: la codicia y la lujuria.

1.4 Y aun hay otro modo de ver la salud de este organismo que es la Iglesia: un cuerpo necesita gozar de gran unidad y cohesión interior porque no es sólo el cuidado de los miembros, aparatos y sistemas, sino la relación que haya entre ellos lo que determina ese estado general que se llama "salud". Es lo que encontramos en esa invitación a cuidar de los que se pueden sentir más aislados, como son los encarcelados, y también la exhortación a recordar la labor de los pastores, que son principio visible de unidad.

2. Jesucristo es el mismo

2.1 Este enunciado, resumen de todo lo que puede darnos fuerza como creyentes, es una de las joyas de la Carta a los Hebreos.

2.2 Estamos en Misa. Jesús se hace presente en el altar. Él es el mismo: Aquel que alimento con su fortaleza a los mártires antes de su espantosa muerte. Él es el mismo: Aquel que inspiró con su luz la sabiduría de los doctores y maestros grandes que la Iglesia ha tenido siempre en su historia. Él es el mismo: Aquel que alentó con su gracia el vigor de los misioneros. Él es el mismo, y está ahí, frente a mí, frente a ti. Es el mismo y puede hacer contigo y conmigo cosas grandes como ya las ha hecho en tantos hombres y mujeres a lo largo de los siglos.

3. La muerte de un gran hombre

3.1 Hoy el evangelio nos presenta el martirio de Juan Bautista. Un hombre notable. No lo digo yo, lo dice Jesucristo: " En verdad os digo que entre los nacidos de mujer no se ha levantado nadie mayor que Juan el Bautista" (Mt 11,11). Una vida grande y memorable, tronchada en circunstancias estúpidas y rodeado de gente indigna y cruel. Aprendamos de aquí que la muerte es grande por lo que en ella se entrega no por lo que en su furor nos arrebata.

3.2 Como hay una memoria litúrgica de la muerte del Bautista meditemos en esta ocasión sólo un punto: Herodes apreciaba a Juan, pero lo mandó decapitar, por guardar un juramento inicuo y quedar bien frente a unos invitados innobles. Hasta dónde puede llegar un hombre por tratar de complacer a otros y de cuidar su imagen.

3.3 Toda espiritualidad cristiana necesita un punto de partida sólido, y ese punto sólo lo encontramos en el querer de Dios. Las opiniones humanas son, como decía Fray Luis de Granada, un monstruo de mil cabezas, y quien pretende orientarse por ese monstruo pronto traicionará sus más íntimas convicciones y hará decapitar sus mejores esperanzas.

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Mark Chapter 6

          Christ teaches at Nazareth: he sends forth the twelve

          apostles: he feeds five thousand with five loaves; and

          walks upon the sea.

          6:1. And going out from thence, he went into his own

          country; and his disciples followed him.

          6:2. And when the Sabbath was come, he began to teach in

          the synagogue: and many hearing him were in admiration at

          his doctrine, saying: How came this man by all these

          things? and what wisdom is this that is given to him, and

          such mighty works as are wrought by his hands?

          6:3. Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the

          brother of James, and Joseph, and Jude, and Simon? are not

          also his sisters here with us? And they were scandalized in

          regard of him.

          6:4. And Jesus said to them: A prophet is not without

          honour, but in his own country, and in his own house, and

          among his own kindred.

          6:5. And he could not do any miracles there, only that he

          cured a few that were sick, laying his hands upon them.

          He could not... Not for want of power, but because he would

          not work miracles in favour of obstinate and incredulous

          people, who were unworthy of such favours.

          6:6. And he wondered because of their unbelief, and he went

          through the villages round about teaching.

          6:7. And he called the twelve; and began to send them two

          and two, and gave them power over unclean spirits.

          6:8. And he commanded them that they should take nothing

          for the way, but a staff only; no scrip, no bread, nor

          money in their purse,

          6:9. But to be shod with sandals, and that they should not

          put on two coats.

          6:10. And he said to them: Wheresoever you shall enter into

          an house, there abide till you depart from that place.

          6:11. And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear you;

          going forth from thence, shake off the dust from your feet

          for a testimony to them.

          6:12. And going forth they preached men should do penance:

          6:13. And they cast out many devils, and anointed with oil

          many that were sick, and healed them.

          6:14. And king Herod heard, (for his name was made

          manifest,) and he said: John the Baptist is risen again

          from dead, and therefore mighty works shew forth themselves

          in him.

          6:15. And others said: It is Elias. But others said: It is

          a prophet, as one of the prophets.

          6:16. Which Herod hearing, said: John whom I beheaded, he

          is risen again from the dead.

          6:17. For Herod himself had sent and apprehended John, and

          bound him prison for the sake of Herodias the wife of

          Philip his brother, because he had married her.

          6:18. For John said to Herod: It is not lawful for thee to

          have thy brother's wife.

          6:19. Now Herodias laid snares for him: and was desirous to

          put him to death and could not.

          6:20. For Herod feared John, knowing him to be a just and

          holy man: and kept him, and when he heard him, did many

          things: and he heard him willingly.

          And kept him... That is, from the designs of Herodias; and

          for fear of the people, would not put him to death, though

          she sought it; and through her daughter she effected her

          wish.

          6:21. And when a convenient day was come, Herod made a

          supper for his birthday, for the princes, and tribunes, and

          chief men of Galilee.

          6:22. And when the daughter of the same Herodias had come

          in, and had danced, and pleased Herod, and them that were

          at table with him, the king said to the damsel: Ask of me

          what thou wilt, and I will give it thee.

          6:23. And he swore to her: Whatsoever thou shalt ask I will

          give thee, though it be the half of my kingdom.

          6:24. Who when she was gone out, said to her mother, What

          shall I ask? But her mother said: The head of John the

          Baptist.

          6:25. And when she was come in immediately with haste to

          the king, she asked, saying: I will that forthwith thou

          give me in a dish, the head of John the Baptist.

          6:26. And the king was struck sad. Yet because of his oath,

          and because of them that were with him at table, he would

          not displease her:

          6:27. But sending an executioner, he commanded that his

          head should be brought in a dish.

          6:28. And he beheaded him in the prison, and brought his

          head in a dish: and gave to the damsel, and the damsel gave

          it her mother.

          6:29. Which his disciples hearing came, and took his body,

          and laid it in a tomb.

          6:30. And the apostles coming together unto Jesus, related

          to him all things that they had done and taught.

          6:31. And he said to them: Come apart into a desert place,

          and rest a little. For there were many coming and going:

          and they had not so much as time to eat.

          6:32. And going up into a ship, they went into a desert

          place apart.

          6:33. And they saw them going away, and many knew: and they

          ran flocking thither foot from all the cities, and were

          there before them.

          6:34. And Jesus going out saw a great multitude: and he had

          compassion on them, because they were as sheep not having a

          shepherd, and he began to teach them many things.

          6:35. And when the day was now far spent, his disciples

          came to him, saying: This is a desert place, and the hour

          is now past:

          6:36. Send them away, that going into the next villages and

          towns, they may buy themselves meat to eat.

          6:37. And he answering said to them: Give you them to eat.

          And they said to him: Let us go and buy bread for two

          hundred pence, and we will give them to eat.

          6:38. And he saith to them: How many loaves have you? go

          and see.  And when they knew, they say: Five, and two

          fishes.

          6:39. And he commanded them that they should make them all

          sit down by companies upon the green grass.

          6:40. And they sat down in ranks, by hundreds and by

          fifties.

          6:41. And when he had taken the five loaves, and the two

          fishes: looking up to heaven, he blessed, and broke the

          loaves, and gave to his disciples to set before them: and

          the two fishes he divided among them all.

          6:42. And they all did eat, and had their fill.

          6:43. And they took up the leavings, twelve full baskets of

          fragments, and of the fishes.

          6:44. And they that did eat, were five thousand men.

          6:45. And immediately he obliged his disciples to go up

          into the ship, that they might go before him over the water

          to Bethsaida, whilst he dismissed the people.

          6:46. And when he had dismissed them, he went up to the

          mountain to pray,

          6:47. And when it was late, the ship was in the midst of

          the sea, and himself alone on the land.

          6:48. And seeing them labouring in rowing, (for the wind

          was against them,) and about the fourth watch of the night,

          he cometh to them walking upon the sea, and he would have

          passed by them.

          6:49. But they seeing him walking upon the sea, thought it

          was an apparition, and they cried out.

          6:50. For they all saw him, and were troubled bled. And

          immediately he spoke with them, and said to them: Have a

          good heart, it is I, fear ye not.

          6:51. And he went up to them into the ship, and the wind

          ceased: and they were far more astonished within

          themselves:

          6:52. For they understood not concerning the loaves; for

          their heart was blinded.

          6:53. And when they had passed over, they came into the

          land of Genezareth, and set to the shore.

          6:54. And when they were gone out of the ship, immediately

          they knew him:

          6:55. And running through that whole country, they began to

          carry about in beds those that were sick, where they heard

          he was.

          6:56. And whithersoever he entered, into towns or into

          villages or cities, they laid the sick in the streets, and

          besought him that they might touch but the hem of his

          garment: and as many as touched him were made whole.

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