The Beheading of St John the Baptist, François Perrier (1594–1649), Kedlestone HallThe death of John the Baptist is described in Matthew 14:1–12.

It’s right that we’re often asked to think of Jesus in terms of his loving and compassionate teaching… We’re asked to love one another, to forgive, to care for those who are hurting.

But the Gospel has another side: Jesus’ harder teachings. The teachings that challenge us, disturb us, and sometimes make us uncomfortable.

Today I ask you to reflect on the beheading of John the Baptist. John wasn’t afraid to speak a difficult truth to Herod. He could have kept quiet. He could have avoided confrontation and protected himself. But he chose faithfulness over convenience, ultimately costing him his life — a life taken by deceit, jealousy and an inability to face the truth.

And that tells us something important about discipleship.

Following Christ is not simply about accepting the parts of the Gospel that we find attractive or comforting. It means allowing the whole Gospel to speak to us… even when it challenges our choices, our priorities or the way we live.

John shows us that discipleship requires courage. He was prepared to speak the truth, even when it brought him into conflict with those in power. He did not seek confrontation, but he also did not remain silent when truth and justice were at stake.

Centuries later, we see something similar in the life of Saint Oscar Romero. As Archbishop of San Salvador, he spoke out against violence, injustice and the suffering of the poor. He knew the risks, yet he continued to speak because he believed that remaining silent in the face of injustice was not an option for a follower of Christ.

Both John the Baptist and Oscar Romero remind us that discipleship is not about seeking conflict or martyrdom. It is about having the courage to remain faithful when the truth is difficult, when speaking out is unpopular, and when silence would be the easier choice.

Their death also reminds us that being faithful does not always mean that things will work out as we’d like. John the Baptist was the beacon; he did the right thing, and yet he suffered for it. There was no earthly reward or happy ending.

But John’s life was never about himself. His whole purpose was to point beyond himself towards Christ. Even in death, his witness remains.

Perhaps that is one of the lessons we can take from John. We are not called to be popular, or to make everyone agree with us. We are called to be faithful.

And sometimes that will mean accepting that following Christ is difficult. It may mean challenging our own attitudes, admitting that we are wrong, or having the courage to stand by our faith when it would be easier to remain silent.

The Gospel is good news… but it is not always comfortable news.

John’s death asks each of us a simple question: When the teaching of Christ becomes difficult, are we prepared to remain faithful?

At that time Herod the tetrarch heard about the fame of Jesus; and he said to his servants, “This is John the Baptist; he has been raised from the dead; that is why these powers are at work in him.” For Herod had seized John and bound him and put him in prison, for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife; because John said to him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.” And though he wanted to put him to death, he feared the people, because they held him to be a prophet. But when Herod’s birthday came, the daughter of Herodias danced before the company, and pleased Herod, so that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she might ask. Prompted by her mother, she said, “Give me the head of John the Baptist here on a platter.” And the king was sorry, but because of his oaths and his guests he commanded it to be given; he sent and had John beheaded in the prison, and his head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, and she brought it to her mother. And his disciples came and took the body and buried it; and they went and told Jesus.