What do St. John the Baptist and St. Agatha have in common?
It might sound a little morbid, but every time I hear the story of the beheading of St. John the Baptist1, it always fills me with a certain hope, a sense of joy even…because the story reveals the stark difference between how the world treats you when you break its laws versus how God treats us when we commit an offense. Think about it: when you break a law, how does the world respond? Well, you either receive a fine, get thrown into prison, or, if the offense is serious enough, the world might find “just cause” to execute you. That’s what King Herod did to St. John the Baptist. Herod put John to death—just for speaking the truth…which goes to show that some people will manipulate, misrepresent, or spin the truth anyway they want to get the desired result.
God, on the other hand, when we break one of his laws, treats us much more mercifully. God doesn’t give us a fine, throw us in jail, or sentence us to death every time we break the divine law. No, God instead gives us a conscience, which stirs in us a desire to do the right thing. Now you might think our conscience is there to make us feel guilty; that is one of the effects of having a conscience. But the actual purpose of our conscience is to gently invite us to see the error of our ways. In a way, our conscience is God’s way of reminding us of the truth. That is why King Herod felt so disturbed! He interpreted his conscience as troubling him; all the while it was God who was inviting King Herod, through his conscience, to see the Truth that is God Himself. But instead, Herod tried to bury the truth, kill it even…that’s why he had John the Baptist killed. But on some subconscious level, Herod knew that you can try to manipulate the truth, bury it, even kill it, but the Truth that is God will always be resurrected. That is why he thought Jesus was St. John resurrected. The truth will always rise (to the surface).
On February the fifth, the Church celebrates the Memorial of St. Agatha, who was one of the great virgins and martyrs of the early church. I remember as a young boy, reading the story of St. Agatha in my Book of Saints that our parents gave to my sisters and me. And I was deeply disturbed by the cruel and unusual way that she was put to death. I was so troubled, in fact, that I asked my older sister: “Was it true? Did it really happen that way?” And my sister had to assure me that some good came out of it.
The name “Agatha” means good. Agatha’s goodness coincides with her name as well as her way of life. Agatha was a true “virgin” in the theological sense because she glowed of a pure conscience; she was a true virgin because she wore the crimson of the Lamb’s blood as her cosmetics. You see, her robe bore the indelible marks of Our Lord’s crimson blood as a witness to anyone who desires to know the Truth.
When the world condemned Agatha to prison, she was filled with such joy and festal spirit in offering her bitter suffering to God, that is was said she looked like a bride walking towards her wedding banquet.2 Now, as a priest, I have seen many a joyful brides on their wedding day. But I imagine St. Agatha to be more joyful that all of them as she made her way to the dungeon. For Agatha knew the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. Whereas the world condemned her, believing she was losing her life3, Agatha saw her martyrdom as the way to unite herself with Christ, her Bridegroom, for all of eternity. You see, the truth, no matter how hard it is to bear, can fill you with that much joy!
1 Mark 5:14-29.
2 Liturgy of Hours, Volume III, February 5.
3 Jesus said: “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” John 14:6.
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