Memorial of the Passion of Saint John the Baptist

Reading 1 and//www.usccb.org/bible/1thessalonians/4and9 1 THES 4and9-11 Brothers and sistersandOn the subject of fraternal charityyou have no need for anyone to write you,for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another.Indeed, you do this for all the brothers throughout Macedonia.Nevertheless we urge you, brothers and sisters, to progress even more,and to aspire to live a tranquil life,to mind your own affairs,and to work with your own hands,as we instructed you. Responsorial Psalm and//www.usccb.org/bible/psalms/98and1 PS 98and1, 7-8, 9 R. (9)The Lord comes to rule the earth with justice. Sing to the LORD a new song,for he has done wondrous deedsHis right hand has won victory for him,his holy arm. R.The Lord comes to rule the earth with justice. Let the sea and what fills it resound,the world and those who dwell in itLet the rivers clap their hands,the mountains shout with them for joy. R.The Lord comes to rule the earth with justice. Before the LORD, for he comes,for he comes to rule the earthHe will rule the world with justiceand the peoples with equity. R.The Lord comes to rule the earth with justice. Alleluia and//www.usccb.org/bible/matthew/5:10 MT 5:10 R.Alleluia, alleluia.Blessed are those who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness,for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.R.Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel and//www.usccb.org/bible/mark/6:17 MK 6:17-29 Herod was the one who had John the Baptist arrested and bound in prisonon account of Herodias,the wife of his brother Philip, whom he had married.John had said to Herod, It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.”Herodias harbored a grudge against himand wanted to kill him but was unable to do so.Herod feared John, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man,and kept him in custody.When he heard him speak he was very much perplexed,yet he liked to listen to him.She had an opportunity one day when Herod, on his birthday,gave a banquet for his courtiers,his military officers, and the leading men of Galilee.Herodias’ own daughter came inand performed a dance that delighted Herod and his guests.The king said to the girl, Ask of me whatever you wish and I will grant it to you.”He even swore many things to her, I will grant you whatever you ask of me,even to half of my kingdom.”She went out and said to her mother, What shall I ask for?”She replied, The head of John the Baptist.”The girl hurried back to the king’s presence and made her request, I want you to give me at onceon a platter the head of John the Baptist.”The king was deeply distressed,but because of his oaths and the guestshe did not wish to break his word to her.So he promptly dispatched an executioner with ordersto bring back his head.He went off and beheaded him in the prison.He brought in the head on a platter and gave it to the girl.The girl in turn gave it to her mother.When his disciples heard about it,they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.