John the Baptist wasn’t afraid to tell the truth. He preached the same message of repentance regardless of his audience. His boldness eventually brought about his imprisonment: he called out King Herod not just for marrying his brother’s wife, but also for many acts of immorality and brutality. John’s message did not fall on deaf ears. And those who hated the message immediately turned on the messenger. When we are confronted with our own shortcomings, we have two choices. We can receive the message with an open heart, ask for forgiveness, and change; or, we can reject the message and continue lying to ourselves and seeking the company of those who will enable us. Fortunately, neither of these two options usually results in life or death, freedom or imprisonment. However, by rejecting those who call us out when we are wrong, we choose to be like Herod: we hurt other people through our recklessness and remain bound to our decisions and the circumstances surrounding them.

Consider these questions as you reflect on today’s reading:

Have you ever invited anyone to help hold you accountable for your actions? If so, how did it go?

When have you been angry with someone for calling you out in some way?

In a world where people are easily offended, how can we practice accountability?