Brian’s Reflection: Wednesday, August 29, 2007


On this day, the Christian “church” remembers the beheading of
St. John the Baptist. The apparently sinuous and tantalizing Salome,
egged on by her mother, requested it from Herod, who, in a drunken stupor,
offered the damsel anything even to half his kingdom, for her gyrations
at his party. Hence, the “Forerunner” (latter - undoubtedly unknowingly -
honoured by a Japanese car company), was dispatched. So does politics
and vain worldly glory dispatch those who challenge their power.

- BHOAM, On the Feast of the Beheading of John the Baptist


When, oh when, is either the Christian Church, or society in general, going to take seriously its Call?? It is absolutely clear to me that the Gospel calls for charity, understanding, peace, compassion, respect, the honouring of the relationship of every human being as sister and brother, the working together to make God’s Creation a place in which every human being may enjoy and contribute to the gift of Life that we have been given. And then I look at the antics of the World today, leaders and peoples, headscarves or no headscarves, pork or no pork, alcohol or no alcohol (an abstinence kept mostly in the flouting, as far as I can tell - the hypocrisy of letting non-members of the faith supply it), this prophet or that prophet, blah, blah, blah. Can you tell that I am royally …….????

Get a grip people! We are heading into decades of violence, hate, division, killing, war, fueled by nutcases, religious and otherwise, who profess to be disciples of a benevolent God while really disciples of the Gods of Power and Domination and Hate and Vengeance.

John the Baptists are being beheaded every day by the Herods of this World. All in drunken states of power which, in the end, we dupes have given them, out of our own cowardliness and shallow longing to share in that power.

Are we just going to sit around nervously until the dirty bomb is finally dropped? Until the Religious Police nab us on the streets?

It’s time for those who truly believe in the Love of God and in the commonality of Humanity to take our stand. Time to choose our destiny. Before the whole World looks like the devastated Greece we see on the TV these days - apparently fueled by the greed for money.

Ponder Friends. The time has come.

Brian+