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| "The Head of Saint John the Baptist on a Charger" -- by James Tissot |
FIRST
READING: 2
Thessalonians 3: 6 - 10, 16 - 18
6
And we charge you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
that you withdraw yourselves from every brother walking disorderly
and not according to the tradition which they have received of us.
7
For yourselves know how you ought to imitate us. For we were not
disorderly among you.
8
Neither did we eat any man’s bread for nothing: but in labour and
in toil we worked night and day, lest we should be chargeable to any
of you.
9
Not as if we had not power: but that we might give ourselves a
pattern unto you, to imitate us.
10
For also, when we were with you, this we declared to you: that, if
any man will not work, neither let him eat.
16
Now the Lord of peace himself give you everlasting peace in every
place. The Lord be with you all.
17
The salutation of Paul with my own hand: which is the sign in every
epistle. So I write.
18
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
PSALM:
Psalms 128: 1
- 2, 4 - 5
1
Blessed are all they that fear the Lord: that walk in his ways.
2
For thou shalt eat the labours of thy hands: blessed art thou, and it
shall be well with thee.
4
Behold, thus shall the man be blessed that feareth the Lord.
5
May the Lord bless thee out of Sion: and mayst thou see the good
things of Jerusalem all the days of thy life.
GOSPEL:
Mark 6:
17 - 29
17
For Herod himself had sent and apprehended John, and bound him prison
for the sake of Herodias the wife of Philip his brother, because he
had married her.
18
For John said to Herod: It is not lawful for thee to have thy
brother’s wife.
19
Now Herodias laid snares for him: and was desirous to put him to
death and could not.
20
For Herod feared John, knowing him to be a just and holy man: and
kept him, and when he heard him, did many things: and he heard him
willingly.
21
And when a convenient day was come, Herod made a supper for his
birthday, for the princes, and tribunes, and chief men of Galilee.
22
And when the daughter of the same Herodias had come in, and had
danced, and pleased Herod, and them that were at table with him, the
king said to the damsel: Ask of me what thou wilt, and I will give it
thee.
23
And he swore to her: Whatsoever thou shalt ask I will give thee,
though it be the half of my kingdom.
24
Who when she was gone out, said to her mother, What shall I ask? But
her mother said: The head of John the Baptist.
25
And when she was come in immediately with haste to the king, she
asked, saying: I will that forthwith thou give me in a dish, the head
of John the Baptist.
26
And the king was struck sad. Yet because of his oath, and because of
them that were with him at table, he would not displease her:
27
But sending an executioner, he commanded that his head should be
brought in a dish.
28
And he beheaded him in the prison, and brought his head in a dish:
and gave to the damsel, and the damsel gave it her mother.
29
Which his disciples hearing came, and took his body, and laid it in a
tomb.
