Letters From Home Friday of the Fourth Week in Ordinary Time - Dr. John Bergsma
Feb 6, 2026
A lively reflection on Mark 6 that unpacks Herod's confusion about Jesus and the dramatic story of John the Baptist's imprisonment and beheading. Discussion touches on the significance of John in the Church calendar and calls for renewed devotion. A brief prayerful appeal about the role of marriage and cultural truth closes the piece.
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Jesus Seen As John Returned
- John Bergsma explains Herod thought Jesus was John risen from the dead because John had been executed.
- This links Jesus' ministry to John as a sign of prophetic continuity and public memory of John's fate.
The Martyrdom Of John The Baptist
- John Bergsma recounts how Herod killed John the Baptist for denouncing his unlawful marriage.
- He describes Herodias prompting her daughter to request John's head after a dance at Herod's banquet.
John's Unique Liturgical Prominence
- Bergsma highlights the Church's exceptional devotion to John the Baptist across the liturgical year.
- He calls John the Baptist the moon to Jesus' sun, signaling his supportive but subordinate role in salvation history.