LESSONS IN THE LIFE OF HERODIAS: A BANK CHEQUE

Mark 6:23,24 And he sware unto her, Whatsoever thou shalt ask of me, I will give it thee, unto the half of my kingdom. 

Have you found yourself in a situation where another person made a choice which made you think “I would not have done that?” That is the situation we read today about Herodias’ daughter who had the chance to ask for anything, even up to half the kingdom as her performance so pleased the king.

To answer the king’s question, she run of to her mother with another question “what shall I ask”. Whether it was because of her youth, trust in her mother or inexperience, she had propably never pictured herself in such a position. As a result, her mother jumped at the chance to exact her revenge on John using her daughter request.

You could call Herodias many names: ‘a bad example of a mother’ , ‘prophet killer’ , or even ‘a keeper of scores’ , and all are fairly valid in the circumstance. However, she showed us one thing “some opportunities should not be missed”. She  had definitely considered the number times she would be offered such a blank cheque in her lifetime.

Even though the request she made is one we can’t celebrate, don’t be mistaken: her answer to her daughter’s question was not a spur of the moment or a spontaneous decision, it was calculated. Her response was immediately after the question came:
” She went out and asked her mother, “What should I ask for?” Her mother told her, “Ask for the head of John the Baptist!”(Mk 6:24)

In her mind, she had already pictured the end she wanted: ‘for humiliating me, I want John’s head on a platter’, and that was exactly what she got. Beloved, whether it is a spiritual, social, economic or psychological pursuit; you have to at least see, or have seen yourself through your minds eye sitting in specific circles, occupying specific spaces, gained specific achievements or accolades, or be providing specific solutions.  Otherwise, when the opportunities to attain them arise, you will not recognize them and so miss out on them entirely. 

#sly