ROSEMARY Theobalds of St Mary’s Roman Catholic Church, Hexham, reflects on Mark 6, v14-29.

Last week, we thought about our resistance to accepting things we do not want to hear. Herod, the puppet king of Israel, (the Romans were really in charge) did not want to hear that he was wrong in stealing his brother’s wife, named Herodias.

Herod ignored what John the Baptist said, but Herodias was furious and wanted to get rid of him. She contrived a plan involving her daughter.

Herod had given a party to celebrate his birthday and promised the girl whose dancing had pleased his guests, that he would give her anything.

She sought suggestions from her mother who saw her opportunity to get rid of John, and sent her back to Herod asking for the head of John the Baptist.

We read that Herod quite liked John, but he did not want to lose face with his guests, and the head of John was duly brought in and given to the girl. Not the kind of story you expect to read in the Bible, but all life is found in its pages.

We see how easily Herod is manipulated – a weak and not very attractive man. He may have got rid of John and his teachings on how to live in obedience to God, but he was clearly not at peace with himself.

When news of Jesus reached his ears, fear overcame him, and he said: “It is John whose head I cut off; he has risen from the dead.” Perhaps, behind his fear and anxiety about his own power, was a spark of conscience and remorse: He knew John to be a good and holy man.

Might we make a point of listening to what we don’t want to hear?