A Sonnet and a Sermon on the Death of John the Baptist [Proper 10B - Mark 6:14-29]
The Rt. Rev. Jeremiah Williamson Mark 6:14-29 A Sonnet and a Sermon on the Death of John the Baptist All Souls' Memorial Chapel, Keene Valley It seems so terribly out of place here In the midst of this story of Jesus The grizzly end of the Baptist’s career Inserted as a sick anamnesis A memory of casual violence A bloody tale of invasive trauma The price John paid for fervent piousness Was at this king’s party merely drama “This John, whom I beheaded, has been raised.” The sick royal act still haunted the king The prophet returned when he was amazed Until the guilt became his everything A head on a platter would represent The lengths one will go to not repent This story is, I think, supposed to clash, supposed to abruptly disrupt the narrative. As it stands in stark contrast to the harp interlude that preceded its reading this morning, so does it stand in stark contrast to the surrounding peri...