It is said that the majority of newspapers and magazines sell with stories about sex, power and money – and the corruptions that these cause. The headline on the Sydney Morning Herald today certainly bears this out. Both readings today – Hebrews 13:1-8 and Mark 6:14-29 – certainly also focus on the effects of these, with the description of the martyrdom of St John the Baptist, and the practical advice that is offered by Hebrews to overcome these three temptations. Our passage from Hebrews 13 concludes with “Jesus the Messiah is the same, yesterday, today and forever” – offering a way to focus on our own desire to live lives that have true purpose.
Recorded at St Paul’s, Camden, during the opening Mass for the new academic year for St Benedict’s College (08’13”)