King Herod, steeped in superstition and full of fear and guilt was convinced that Jesus was a re-incarnation of John the Baptist whom he had unjustly beheaded. Today's story, beloved of film-makers, tells how it happened. John had rightly condemned Herod for taking his brother's wife. Adultery was against the Jewish Law and even punishable by death unless, of course, you were a king. Herodias, the illegal second wife, knows her husband's weaknesses especially when compounded with alcohol. Having made a rash promise to a girl who had clearly played on his weaknesses, he is caught by the terrible demand for John the Baptist's head, whom deep down he respects as a man of God. Herod's fear of losing face before his court, makes him do what he knew was horribly wrong. How often have we, because of fear of what others might say or even think, been the cause of an injustice made against an innocent person? How often, out of human respect, have we violated our own conscience and deepest convictions?