This week’s lectionary gospel text tells the lurid story of John the Baptist’s demise. John had been arrested and imprisoned for his vocal criticism of King Herod’s moral shortcomings -- but while Herod’s wife tried to convince her husband to have John executed, Herod was unwilling to carry out a death sentence. Not only was he intimidated by John’s holiness, but Mark also informs us that Herod “liked to listen” to John. Things get totally out of control for the monarch, however, when he celebrates his birthday by hosting a state dinner for Galilean bigwigs.
