Head On A Platter

Today we read, “…But at a birthday celebration for Herod, the daughter of Herodias performed a dance before the guests and delighted Herod so much that he swore to give her whatever she might ask for.  

Prompted by her mother, she said, “Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist.” The king was distressed, but because of his oaths and the guests who were present, he ordered that it be given, and he had John beheaded in the prison.  His head was brought in on a platter and given to the girl, who took it to her mother…”

Poor John.   His head was put on a platter sans body.  That mother and daughter did him in.   The king let them have their wish.

Whose head-on-a-platter do we want?   It’s an expression we sometimes use when we’re angry and want revenge for some assumed wrongdoing.   It’s a bit radical, don’t we think.   Still, it emphasizes how violent we can become when daggers fly from our eyes.

Next time before we ask for beheading, let’s remember that the next head to fall may be our own, so to speak.   Revenge cuts both ways.

Deacon David Pierce