From today’s Scripture: “So he promptly dispatched an executioner with orders to bring back his head. He went off and beheaded him in the prison. He brought in the head on a platter…”—Mk 6:27-28

Our world sees the slaughter of innocents every day of the year. And torture in prisons is a worldwide constant. One advocacy group reports that 44 percent of refugees who come to the United States have suffered torture. That’s more than a million people in the United States today.

It’s a tough Gospel reading we hear today, about the murder of Jesus’ cousin John the Baptist. We proclaim the reading again and again so that we do not forget. We, too, mustn’t forget those who suffer torture today. Pray, and support advocacy organizations.

Let us pray: Lord, keep my eyes and heart open today, even to those things I would rather ignore. Challenge me with your Gospel. Give me strength to respond.

Today’s author is John Feister, an award-winning journalist and leader of Glenmary’s Communications Team. 

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