Honoring the Martyrdom of Saint John

Did you have a “haunted house” in your neighborhood growing up? You know, that house at the edge of the neighborhood that children were afraid of. I know we once did.

When the subdivision that I called home was built, the land was a part of a large farm. When the farmer passed away, his widow sold off the land, keeping a small patch for herself.

The house was a typical white, two-story farm house. It looked a lot like the one John-Boy Walton grew up in. Just off from the house was a large detached garage for the farming equipment. There were roses growing around the front of the property. It didn’t look scary. Yet because an old woman lived alone in the house, we began to think she was a witch. There were stories of her conquering up her dead husband and that she kept wolves chained up in the garage. No one dare step on the property ever.

Years later, what was left of the farm was sold. God works in mysterious ways. The land, the house and the spooky garage were bought up by the Byzantine Catholic Church. Father Dennis lived in the house, and the large garage was converted to a church, complete with a steeple. It became a gathering place for our community with festivals and celebrations. Father Dennis was a fixture in many homes, putting to rest all those scary stories. I can remember the first time the doors of the house were thrown open. We came out of curiosity. Yet many of us stayed to help the Church grown.

I can remember on the Feast of Saint John the Baptist, as a parish we neither ate foods from a platter nor used a knife that day. John was a martyr for Christ. He called out the sinfulness of King Herod and his unlawful marriage to his own brother’s wife. Calling people to repent and pointing out the sinfulness of Herod resulted in the beheading of John as a gift. John’s coming was foretold and his destiny sealed.

“Behold, I will send My messenger, who will prepare the way before Me. Then the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to His temple – the Messenger of the covenant, in whom yu delight – see, He is coming” says the LORD of Hosts
Malachi 3:1

While most do not avoid the instruments of John demise, some do. It is with the traditions of old in mind that I offer a simple soup, thus avoiding plates, platters and knives of any kind. Even the chives for the bread are snipped and not sliced.

Four Can Minestrone Soup
2 cans Progresso Minestrone Soup
1 can White Bean Soup
1 can Cut Green Beans
Sast to taste
Black Pepper to taste

Empty soup into a medium stockpot. Drain green beans and white beans, add to soup.

Stir to blend, season to taste with salt and pepper. Gently warm the soup over medium-low heat. Serve with Chive Crescent Rolls and enjoy.

Buttery Chive Crescent Rolls
Cooking Spray
1 can refrigerated Crescent Rolls
2 tablespoons soft Butter
1 teaspoon Garlic Powder
1/4 cup Chives

Heat oven to 375-degrees. Lightly spray a baking sheet with cooking spray. Set aside.

On a flat surface such as a cutting board, unroll crescent dough. Leave as one sheet. Set aside.

In a small bowl, mash soft butter with garlic powder. Brush dough with garlic butter. Snip chives, sprinkle over the buttered dough. Separate rolls along perforated lines. (A pizza cutter keeps everything clean). Roll each into a crescent shape beginning at the wide end rolling toward the point. Place on the prepared baking sheet.

Bake crescents in the heated oven for about 10 minutes or until golden brown. Immediate remove from baking sheet to prevent bottom form over-cooking. Serve warm.

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Generation after generation praises Your works
and proclaims Your might.
They speak of the splendor of Your glorious majesty
and tell of Your wondrous works.