Daily Devotional for November 9

 

November 9                                                  Matthew 14:1-12

  ". ..he sent and had John beheaded in the prison, and
                his head was brought on a platter...."

Jesus, today you receive the news of the tragic death of John
the Baptist, your friend and forerunner. Without a word, you
withdraw to a lonely place apart. You withdraw, perhaps to
reflect on the depth of evil in our world, evil that has erupted
so violently in John's death. You withdraw, perhaps to con-
template the mystery of a God who would raise up a mighty
prophet like John and then allow him to die so cruelly. You
withdraw, perhaps to discern in this tragedy something of the
pain of every human tragedy. And perhaps you see in the death
of this, your forerunner, something of the tragedy of the
passion and death that awaits you as the price to be paid for
the healing of the evil in our world.

Today I withdraw with you, Jesus. Without a word, I find "a
lonely place apart" in my heart, and I pray for the healing of
the evil in our broken world.

I raise to you the tragedy of people unjustly imprisoned and
murdered by the Herods of today's world, and I pray: Christ,
have mercy.

I raise to you the tragedy of AIDS and other terminal diseases
that afflict us with fear and pain, and I pray: Christ, have mercy.

I raise to you the tragedy of unresolved anger, pain, and fear
that erupt in acts of violence in our nations, our cities

[like the recent killing at Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh],

and our homes, and I pray: Christ, have mercy.

I raise to you the tragedy of needless pain that I have inflicted,
intentionally or unintentionally, on others, and I pray: Christ,
have mercy.

I raise to you all the unnecessary tragedies in our world today,
both large and small, and I pray: Christ, have mercy.

​

From The Road to Emmaus - An inclusive devotional Edited by Joseph W. Houle

Emmaus House of Prayer - Washington D.C.198