Good and Bad Birthday Celebrations

“At a birthday celebration of Herod, the daughter of Herodias performed a dance and delighted Herod so much that he swore to give her whatever she might ask for." 

Matthew 14:6-7

Birthdays are a time of celebration and rejoicing. Perhaps we look back at our life, and thank God for the many blessings He bestowed on us, family, friends, our talents and gifts. We may also use the time to evaluate, recalibrate, examine our life. A wise man or woman would take the time to pray and offer his or her life to God. Some take pilgrimages or retreats to start anew. 

What did Herod do? Here is a man whose thinking is distorted by power, lust, pride and the influence of a woman with no conscience. One can imagine what went on during his birthday if the daughter of his mistress danced to his immense delight that he promised to grant her ANYTHING her heart desired, even to half his kingdom! Instead of a celebration of his life, he manages to turn his birthday into an infamous assassination when the daughter upon the advice of her mother, asked for the head of John the Baptist! John's head was brought in on a platter and presented to Salome.

I don’t know if this is true but Jews believe the writings of Josephus to be accurate. This historian wrote that Salome, the name he gives to Herodias’ daughter, died when her head was sliced off by sharp ice! She was crossing the Sikirus river on foot during winter and fell into the frozen water up to her neck and could not get out. Divine justice? 

We do not have to wait for birthdays to examine our life, and the road we are taking. Every new day is a gift from God to correct mistakes, to forgive, to heal broken relationships, to be more loving, grateful and kind. We need to surround ourselves with good people who desire to do God's will and who will accompany us on our pilgrimage to heaven. 

Lord, thank You for being our compass, our North Star. Thank You for showing us the path to life not death. May we always listen to You and should we stray, Lord, bring us back to You.