John the Baptist was beheaded at the request of the daughter of Herodias
of Herodias, he was beheaded at the command of Herod.
Invitation
May I draw your attention to
the daily reading of the Gospel
This invitation seeks to celebrate the joy
of the Gospel. Everyone, without exception
can experience that joy by opening his or her heart
to the healing power of the Word of God.
Available every day
Consideration
In both Luke’s gospel of infancy and Mark’s gospel – which begins with John baptising Jesus – John the Baptist refers to those who will come after him. John and Jesus, described in the Bible as members of a family, experience a strong kinship: they recognise each other’s teachings. Therefore, Jesus allows himself to be baptised by John, while John realises that Jesus can bring him and many others even closer to God. The parable between Jesus and John is extended to Jeremiah in the first reading. Thus, it becomes clear that Jesus is part of the great prophetic tradition.
FIRST READING Jeremiah 1, 17-19
Tell the people everything I command you.
Do not be intimidated by them.
From the prophet Jeremiah
In those days the word of the Lord came to me:
‘Gird up your loins
arise and speak to the people
all that I command you.
‘Do not be intimidated by them ;
otherwise I will make you afraid in their eyes.
‘I Myself will make you a fortified city today
a fortified city,
a pillar of iron,
a wall of copper
for the whole earth
for the kings and the nobles of Judah,
the priests and the citizens of the land.
‘They shall fight against you, but they shall have no power against you.
‘For I am with you to save you.’
Thus speaks the Lord.
INTERLUDIUM Ps. 71(70), 1-2, 3-4a, 5-6ab, 15ab and 17
I will praise your righteousness.
With you, Lord, I take refuge
but never forsake me.
You are just, save me and deliver me.
Hear me and come to my aid.
Be for me a refuge, a safe place ;
my rock and my fortress you have always been.
Deliver me, my God, from the hands of sinners,
From the fist that cruelly clasps me.
For You, my God, You are my hope,
You are my hope, Lord, from my earliest childhood.
From my mother’s womb I have leaned on Thee,
Thou art my protector from my birth,
on Thee I have always trusted.
I will praise Your righteousness
Thy assistance all day long.
From childhood I have experienced it
and even now I praise Your works.
ALLELUIA Mt 5:10
Alleluia.
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Alleluia.
GOSPEL McK 6:17-29
I want the head of John the Baptist
the head of John the Baptist.
From the holy gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Mark
In those days Herod had John seized and imprisoned
and tied with chains in prison because of Herodias,
the wife of his brother Philip,
for he had taken her to wife.
After all, John had said to Herod:
‘It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife’.
Herodias was therefore furious with him and wanted to kill him,
but she did not get the chance
Herod was in awe of John.
He knew he was a righteous and holy man
and took him under his protection.
Every time he listened to him, he was troubled.
Still, he listened to him gladly.
However, an auspicious day came
when, on his birthday, Herod
organised a meal for his dignitaries,
his chief officers and the leading figures of Galilee.
The daughter of Herodias performed a dance
and bore Herod and his tablemates.
The king said to the girl:
‘Ask me anything you want and I will give it to you’.
And he affirmed her with an oath:
‘Whatever you ask me, I will give it to you
even if it is half my kingdom’.
She went out and asked her mother:
‘What shall I ask for?’
The latter answered her:
‘The head of John the Baptist’.
She walked to the king
and told him her wish:
‘I want you to
put me upright
on a platter
the head of John the Baptist’.
This made the king suffer
but to honour his oath and also for the sake of his tablemates
he did not want to refuse.
So the king immediately sent a bodyguard and ordered him to bring the head of John
And ordered him to bring the head of John.
The man went and beheaded him in prison.
He brought the head on a tray and gave it to the girl;
The girl gave it back to her mother.
When his disciples heard it
they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.
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Fratelli tutti
Encyclical of
POPE FRANCISCUS
On brotherhood and social friendship
20. This rejection manifests itself in many ways, such as in the obsession to reduce the cost of labour without being aware of the serious consequences that this entails, as the resulting unemployment has the direct effect of pushing the boundaries of poverty. Moreover, rejection takes reprehensible forms that we thought we had overcome, such as racism.
Moreover, rejection takes reprehensible forms we thought we had overcome, such as racism, which keeps hiding and reemerging. The manifestations of racism again fill us with shame because they show that the supposed progress of society is not so real and not secured once and for all.
Continued
Every morning at 1 am
The Bible text of this issue is taken from The New Translation of the Bible,
The New Bible Translation, ©Dutch Bible Society 2004/2007.
Considerations of liturgical suggestions for weekdays and Sundays
Fratelli tutti Official English Translation
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