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Gospel Commentary for Saturday, August 2, 2025
We might ask ourselves why this story of John the Baptist, Herod, and Herodias appears in the Gospels. To me, it is a very clear way of helping us better understand what the Kingdom is. Because in this story we see exactly the opposite of the Kingdom that Jesus proclaims.
Let’s imagine the situation a bit. Herod was a tyrant—like most kings and rulers of nations at that time. He could impose his will without limits. Or at least, that’s what we think. But in reality, that’s not entirely true. Even the greatest tyrant has limits. His power is not absolute, because in order to exercise it, he depends on many people. He is always afraid that others might stop respecting him, stop obeying him, stop submitting to him. In the end, he is afraid of being betrayed. The tyrant feels alone in his power. And in that loneliness, he feels threatened. Even his closest friends can turn against him. Even his own family can force him to do things he doesn’t want to do. And he will do them, because that’s the price of keeping power—or, in other words, of feeling safe. In Herod’s case, it’s clear: he ends up killing John the Baptist out of fear of his wife and of what his guests might think.
The Kingdom that Jesus announces is the complete opposite. It is built on fraternity. In the Kingdom, others are not a threat, but those with whom we share life. I don’t need to look for personal safety in an obsessive way. My relationship with others (and with God, of course) is based on trust and mutual love. The Kingdom does not produce death or violence, but the opposite: life, hope, brotherhood, and justice.
Herod needed violence to stay in power. Everyone could be a threat to him. The result was destruction and sorrow. Jesus offers love, encounter, cooperation, walking together, mutual help. The result is fullness of life. By looking at Herod, we understand more clearly what the Kingdom of God truly is.