After John had been Arrested
Monday of the First Week in Ordinary Time January 12, 2026
After John had been arrested…
In most situations, when a Catholic listens to or reads a priest's homily, a perspective often lost is that of a parent. Our priests, naturally, are human and can certainly learn from and empathize with parents and families, but there is something about knowing and having lived experience. For example, Artificial Intelligence cannot be true intelligence because, although it can read symbols at a very fast rate and can explain to you how to ride a bike, it can never know, in reality, how to ride a bike—see the difference?
What is in a name? Why do parents choose the names that they choose for their children? In yesterday’s first reading, for the Baptism of Our Lord, the faithful heard:
a bruised reed he will not break, a faintly burning wick he will not quench; he will faithfully bring forth justice.1
The above quotation is a suffering servant song—a song about our LORD. Nonetheless, it reminded me of the other figure in yesterday’s gospel reading, John the Baptist, whom we mentioned again today, “after John had been arrested…”
The faithful are baptized in the three offices of Jesus Christ: priests, prophets, and kings, a concept known in Latin as the Munus Triplex. Our Baptisms, or as St. Paul calls it—our adoptions as Sons and Daughters of God—are true adoptions and, in fact, we share the mission of our LORD now here on earth. There is certainly an ongoing debate about Mary's titles as co-mediator and co-redemptrix. The primary issue, and this is what more or less the Vatican understands, is that the common understanding of the prefix is no longer “with", but also of origin.
Nonetheless, a proper understanding of the prefix co- understands that you and I are called to share the offices of Jesus Christ and to be His instruments in bringing the good news of redemption and salvation to the world.
How are you doing with that task?
Our gospel for today reads from Mark’s gospel 1:14-20:
Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the Gospel of God: “This is the time of fulfillment. The Kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the Gospel.”
Jesus proclaims that the Kingdom of God is present—the Shepherd of the LORD, promised in Ezekiel 34, has come to shepherd His people. The LORD is saying, turn away from the world and believe the good news: I will give you comfort from your sins and shortcomings, and death will be no more.
What is the price for this message? What happens to John—remember the forerunner of Jesus Christ—in the beginning of the passage? John is arrested because Satan and his devils want dominion over the world and all who live in it. Devils whisper in the ears of leaders, and good men like John go to prison and then die for proclaiming God’s laws.
After Jesus’ proclamation, what does He do? He calls for His sheep—Peter, James, and John. One thing I think people in the pews forget by virtue of their baptism is the doctrine of election in Catholicism. Every one of us has been chosen by God. There are no side characters in God’s story—He chose you! And, in fact, what do readers of the Bible often learn? It is what the world considers side characters whom God chooses to make the greatest impact on His mission.
So, what is in a name? I named my son John after John the Baptist because I knew the price of true discipleship and what it means to be chosen by God. I want John to lean on John the Baptist’s story in a world where the leaders care less about God and listen more to the whispers of devils.
Is. 42: 3 ESV-CE