“It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.”

Today’s Gospel confronts us with one of the hardest demands of faith: the call to stand for truth and justice, even when it is dangerous. John the Baptist speaks clearly to King Herod: “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” John does not flatter power. He does not stay silent to protect himself. He names sin for what it is, not out of hatred, but out of love for truth. John’s courage costs him his life. His death is not caused only by Herodias’s hatred, but also by Herod’s weakness. Herod knows John is holy and righteous. He likes to listen to him. Yet when pressure comes—fear of losing face, fear of breaking an oath, fear of his guests, Herod chooses comfort over conscience. Truth is silenced, and injustice wins the moment. But only for the moment. This Gospel speaks powerfully to our world, where truth is often inconvenient and justice is easily postponed. It is tempting to say nothing, to stay safe, to blend in. But John the Baptist reminds us that faith without courage becomes empty. To follow God is not only to pray it is also to speak and live the truth, even when it is costly. The first reading about King David gives us another model. David is not perfect, but he loves God “with his whole being.” He praises the Lord, trusts Him, and gives thanks in all things. David’s strength comes not from his power, but from his relationship with God. That same strength is what allowed John the Baptist and later, the martyrs to stand firm. This is where the Memorial of Saint Paul Miki and Companions come in. Paul Miki and his fellow martyrs in Japan were ordinary believers, priests, catechists, and lay people who refused to deny Christ. They were mocked, imprisoned, and finally executed because they would not betray the truth of the Gospel. Like John the Baptist, they chose faithfulness over fear. Their lives ask us a serious question: What are we willing to risk for the truth? Are we willing to stand up for what is right when it is unpopular? When honesty costs us approval? When justice threatens our comfort? Psalm 18 proclaims: “Blessed be God my salvation!” God is our rock and our shield. When we stand with Him, even suffering becomes meaningful. Even death becomes a witness. Today, John the Baptist, Saint Paul Miki, and his companions teach us that truth is not negotiable. Justice is not optional. And faith is not just something we believe, it is something we live, even when it is hard. May their courage strengthen our own, so that in our words, choices, and silence, we may always stand