by Rev. Herbert Nichols

Yesterday we focused on the conversion of St. Augustine, Today presents a spiritual road map to guide one along the journey of conversion. Furthermore, he compliments the Thessalonians for the progress they make along the way. Perhaps that is part of the great difficulty in the Church today. Many have been accustomed perhaps to scolding or at least belittlement for their sinful actions rather than encouragement for attempts at renewal.

Paul says first, that God is pleased by the holiness for which you strive. Secondly, it is a continuous struggle to continue for still greater progress. Conversion is not merely from bad to good--but from good to better--and that is much more difficult. The question then is how do we progress in holiness?

Perhaps the first aspect is never to become complacent, to become completely satisfied. We spoke earlier of humility, which allows us to recognize our never ending need for growth.

It also makes us realize that we do not have the means within ourselves to make progress in holiness. We cannot lift ourselves up by our own bootstraps, or by our own shoestrings, or whatever the expression might be these days. It is God who gives us the grace to be holy if we but open our hearts to accept it.

In today’s gospel we find the example of one whose heart is not open. King Herod had murdered his brother Philip in order to marry Herodias. John preached against this sin, angering and intimidating the Queen who determined to silence him.

King Herod, who understandably was not pleased with the protests of John and the nagging of his wife, threw him in prison but refused to execute him because deep within he was moved in admiration and inspiration of this spunky desert prophet.

Coming under the influence of liquid spirits and lustful spirits, he was tricked. Humility was not strong and he surrendered to the wishes of the queen and John was executed.

In the Liturgy of the Hours for today it is written:

"Blessed John showed in his struggle a goodness worthy of the sight of heaven. . There is no doubt that blessed John suffered imprisonment and chains as a witness to our Redeemer. . . and gave his life for Him. His persecutor had demanded not that he should deny Christ, but only that he should keep silent about the truth; nevertheless, he allowed himself to be imprisoned rather than to chain the word of God in truth. And ultimately his head was severed but nothing could detach him from the freedom of heavenly peace.