This week’s lectionary passage is a gory tale about the demise of John the Baptist and the surprising reaction of the one responsible for it.

Mark 6:14-29 MSG

     King Herod heard of all this, for by this time the name of Jesus was on everyone’s lips. He said, “This has to be John the Baptizer come back from the dead—that’s why he’s able to work miracles!”

     Others said, “No, it’s Elijah.”

     Others said, “He’s a prophet, just like one of the old-time prophets.”

     But Herod wouldn’t budge: “It’s John, sure enough. I cut off his head, and now he’s back, alive.”

     Herod was the one who had ordered the arrest of John, put him in chains, and sent him to prison at the nagging of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife. For John had provoked Herod by naming his relationship with Herodias “adultery.” Herodias, smoldering with hate, wanted to kill him, but didn’t dare because Herod was in awe of John. Convinced that he was a holy man, he gave him special treatment. Whenever he listened to him he was miserable with guilt—and yet he couldn’t stay away. Something in John kept pulling him back.

     But a portentous day arrived when Herod threw a birthday party, inviting all the brass and bluebloods in Galilee. Herodias’s daughter entered the banquet hall and danced for the guests. She charmed Herod and the guests.

     The king said to the girl, “Ask me anything. I’ll give you anything you want.” Carried away, he kept on, “I swear, I’ll split my kingdom with you if you say so!”

     She went back to her mother and said, “What should I ask for?”

     “Ask for the head of John the Baptizer.”

     Excited, she ran back to the king and said, “I want the head of John the Baptizer served up on a platter. And I want it now!”

     That sobered the king up fast. But unwilling to lose face with his guests, he caved in and let her have her wish. The king sent the executioner off to the prison with orders to bring back John’s head. He went, cut off John’s head, brought it back on a platter, and presented it to the girl, who gave it to her mother. When John’s disciples heard about this, they came and got the body and gave it a decent burial.

What regrets do you struggle with?

 

A Prayerful Process for Processing Regret

·       Acknowledge what you’re feeling – journal the complexity!

·       Fact-check your assumptions about your regret.

·       Practice forgiveness: of yourself, others, and for yourself.

·       Honor the loss of what might have been.

·       Broaden your perspective: you are more than your failures.

·       Connect with others who have been through something similar.

·       Learn the lessons your regrets teach you.

·       Allow regret to anchor you forward, not hold you to the past.

·       Repeat as necessary.

 

With Regrets

Regrets linger like shadows in the past,

Haunting the mind with memories uncast.

But rise above, let go of the pain,

For in the present, you can regain.

 

Embrace the lessons that regrets bring,

Use them as fuel to rise and sing.

Let go of what you cannot change,

And focus on a brighter range.

 

In the ashes of regret, find strength anew,

Forge a path that is wholly true.

Overcoming regrets, you shall see,

A future filled with possibility.

 

What I Can Offer You

Rich Orloff

I cannot fix your pain
I cannot solve your problem
I can’t prevent the sorrow you’re feeling
Or even guarantee I’ll make you smile

However, because I’ve known
Joy embracing me and disappearing in the middle of the night
Feeling safe and despairing if I’ll ever feel safe again
Lowering my guard and being ambushed by camouflaged demons

And because I’ve also known
The miracle of healing when pain seemed inescapable
The joy of connection when isolation had me surrounded
Love returning and apologizing for its absence

Because I have experienced enough No in my life
To understand tragedy

Because I have been surprised by enough Yes in my life
To maintain hope

Because I’ve known
All these things
And more

I will gladly hold your hand
So you don’t have to face the pains of life alone
And I will wait with you patiently
Until the next miracle arrives