prophets in the way of profits

Thursday July 16th, Mark 6: 17 For Herod himself had given orders to have John arrested, and he had him bound and put in prison. He did this because of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, whom he had married. 18 For John had been saying to Herod, "It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife." Oooh! Those prophets, they are always getting in the way of profits and alliances and speaking truth to power. Herod was strangely drawn to John, there was something about the words he spoke that while they stung, they also rung true. Herod may have been trying to silence the voice of God by putting John in prison, then maybe he just wanted to keep him around to hear more when he was finished with the prattle of his guests. Perhaps he even liked to sneak off in the middle of the night to the bowels of the dungeon for a little late night soul searching. Those who misuse power often try to silence anyone holding up a mirror that shows them what they are doing and at the same time, be drawn to it. God asks us to be mirror holders. Through thick and thin, abuse and praise, hold up that mirror and let people see themselves, and one another, as the child of God, created in God’s image, to do the work of God. Most of us learn over time however that setting down the mirror and keeping our mouths shut is the way to get the promotion. Bishop Tutu once said, “if an elephant has it’s foot on the tail of a mouse and you say you are neutral, the mouse will not appreciate your neutrality.” When we speak the word of God, expect to raise a bit of anger as well as interest in return. Mirrors have a nasty way of showing flaws in addition to beauty.