「為使你們的信德不是憑人的智慧，而是憑天主的德能。」（格前2:5）
憑人的智慧，還可以稱得上是信德嗎？
好了，即使好像約納先知一樣，天主一定要你做。天主要你向東，縱使你逃向西，天主強要你在路上迎面碰上黑落德。那麼，你也可以圓滑點，婉轉點，好像納堂先知勸諫達味王一樣（撒下12:1-6），犯不著這樣直接，招來殺身之禍…
若翰洗者的死，對世人有甚麼好處呢？他的死有激發當代的人，起義推翻黑落德嗎？若翰洗者的門徒，結果不是改信基督宗教（宗19:1-7），就是在歷史中消失了。若翰的殉道，怎樣顯示了天主的德能呢？他的死，值得嗎？
天父說：「我可愛的若翰，你見到我的不肖子黑落德嗎？他被黑落狄雅所迷惑，但他仍未喪盡天良，我想給他多一個回頭的機會，我不忍心見他泥足深陷，不能自拔。女人始終要依戀男人，若黑落德回頭，連黑落狄雅也可得救。我有信心你是可以喚醒他的。我可愛的若翰，你不用害怕失敗。縱使你失敗了，我仍會與你一同享受永生。不過，你要寬恕黑落德，因為我要寬恕他。倘若你的心容不下他，在永生的境界中，你會很不舒服。緊記我的話，一會兒見。」
讓我們來分析若翰洗者身處的形勢吧。黑落德不好惹，他狡猾好色，又有點小聰明，以為自己有能力駕馭黑落狄雅。不要忘記，生殺大權操在他手上，可惜他沒有足夠的智慧，來運用這大殺傷力的權力。黑落狄雅更不好惹，她野心勃勃，蛇蠍心腸。倘若你是她的障礙，她一定會借黑落德的刀殺了你。縱使天主願意救你，所謂遠水不能救近火，還是「明哲保身」好。況且，我不做，天主可以派其他先知做。大有人在，不必是我，對不對？
天父啊！可以不做殉道者嗎？不要照我所願意的， 而要照你所願意的。亞孟。
"That your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God." (1 Corinthians 2:5)
Can human wisdom be called faith?
Let's face it. Even if God really forced you to do, like Jonah the prophet, despite the fact that you ran to the opposite direction, God arranged a direct encounter between you and Antipas. Well then, you could have been more diplomatic, could have spoken more tactfully like what Nathan said to King David (2 Samuel 12:1-6). It was not necessary for you to be so blunt, so direct and got killed ...
What good did the death of John the Baptist do to the world? Did his death instigate any rebellion to overthrow Antipas? At the end of the day, the disciples of John the Baptist were either converted to Christianity (Acts 19:1-7) or vanished in history. How did the martyrdom of the Baptist manifest God's power? Was his death worthy?
The Father says, "My dear John, have you seen my naughty boy Antipas? He has been intoxicated by Herodias, but he is not beyond redemption. I want to give him a second chance. I do not want to see him perish. A woman's desire is for her husband. If Antipas repented, Herodias would be redeemed too. I trust you are able to wake him up. My dear John. Don't be afraid of failure. Even if you were to fail, I would still share my eternal life with you. But you have to forgive Antipas because I forgive him. If your heart could not tolerate him, in eternity, you would be uncomfortable. Mark my words. See you later."
Let us analyze the situation of John the Baptist. Herod Antipas should not be provoked. He was cunning and lustful. With a little wit, he thought he could handle Herodias. Don't forget, he had the authority to put anybody to death. Unfortunately, he did not have a wisdom compatible with his authority to kill. Herodias was even worse. She was ambitious with a maleficent heart. If you were an obstacle on her path to power, she would make Antipas have you beheaded. Even though God was willing to save you, it would be wiser not to put fire on your own head. Furthermore, why you? There were many other prophets God would send even if you didn't want to, right?
Heavenly Father, can I not be a martyr? Yet not what I will, but what thou wilt. Amen.
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