[Salvation]

From: Mark 6:17-29

John the Baptist Beheaded

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[17] For Herod had sent and seized John, and bound him in prison for
the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife; because he had married
her. [18] For John said to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your
brother’s wife.” [19] And Herodias had a grudge against him, and
wanted to kill him. But she could not, [20] for Herod feared John,
knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and kept him safe.
When he heard him, he was much perplexed; and yet he heard him
gladly. [21] But an opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave
a banquet for his courtiers and officers and the leading men of Galilee.
[22] For when Herodias’ daughter came in and danced, she pleased
Herod and his guests; and the king said to the girl, “Ask me for what-
ever you wish, and I will grant it.” [23] And he said to her, “Whatever
you ask me, I will give you, even half of my kingdom.” [24] And she
went out, and said to her mother, “What shall I ask?” And she said,
“The head of John the Baptizer.” [25] And she came in immediately
with haste to the king, and asked, saying, “I want you to give me at
once the head of John the Baptizer on a platter.” [26] And the King
was exceedingly sorry; but because of his oath and his guests he did
not want to break his word to her. [27] And immediately the king sent
a soldier of the guard and gave orders to bring his head. He went and
beheaded him in the prison, [28] and brought his head on a platter,
and gave it to the girl; and the girl gave it to her mother. [29] When
his disciples heard of it, they came and took his body, and laid it in
a tomb.

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Commentary:

16-29. It is interesting that the extensive account of the death of John
the Baptist is inserted here in the Gospel narrative. The reason is St.
John the Baptist’s special relevance in the history of salvation: he is the
Precursor, entrusted with the task of preparing the way for the Messiah.
Besides, John the Baptist had a great reputation among the people:
they believed him to be a prophet (Mark 11:32); some even thought he
was the Messiah (Luke 3:15; John 1:20); and they flocked to him from
many places (Mark 1:5). Jesus Himself said: “Among those born of
women there has risen no one greater than John the Baptist” (Matthew
11:11). Later, the Apostle St. John will speak of him in the Gospel:
“There was a man sent from God, whose name was John” (John 1:6);
but the sacred text points out that, despite this, he was not the light,
but rather the witness to the light (John 1:6-8). More correctly, he was
the lamp carrying the light (John 5:35). We are told here that he was a
righteous man and preached to everyone what had to be preached: he
had a word for people at large, for publicans, for soldiers (Luke 3:10-14);
for Pharisees and Sadducees (Matthew 3:7-12); for King Herod himself
(Mark 6:18-20). This humble, upright and austere man paid with his life
for the witness he bore to Jesus the Messiah (John 1:29 and 36-37).

26. Oaths and promises immoral in content should never be made, and,
if made, should never be kept. This is the teaching of the Church, which
is summed up in the “St. Pius X Catechism”, 383, in the following way:
“Are we obliged to keep oaths we have sworn to do unjust and unlawful
things? Not only are we not obliged: we sin by making such oaths, for
they are prohibited by the Law of God or of the Church.”

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Source: “The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries”. Biblical text from the
Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries by members of
the Faculty of Theology, University of Navarre, Spain.

Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland, and
by Scepter Publishers in the United States.

[Salvation]

Scripture readings taken from the Jerusalem Bible, published and copyright © 1966, 1967 and 1968 by Darton, Longman & Todd

Mass Readings

First reading

1 Thessalonians 2:9 - 13 ©

Let me remind you, brothers, how hard we used to work, slaving night and day so as not to be a burden on any one of you while we were proclaiming God’s Good News to you. You are witnesses, and so is God, that our treatment of you, since you became believers, has been impeccably right and fair. You can remember how we treated every one of you as a father treats his children, teaching you what was right, encouraging you and appealing to you to live a life worthy of God, who is calling you to share the glory of his kingdom. Another reason why we constantly thank God for you is that as soon as you heard the message that we brought you as God’s message, you accepted it for what it really is, God’s message and not some human thinking; and it is still a living power among you who believe it.

Psalm or canticle: Psalm 138

Gospel

Matthew 23:27 - 32 ©

Jesus said, ‘Alas for you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You who are like whitewashed tombs that look handsome on the outside, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and every kind of corruption. In the same way you appear to people from the outside like good honest men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness. ‘Alas for you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You who build the sepulchres of the prophets and decorate the tombs of holy men, saying, “We would never have joined in shedding the blood of the prophets, had we lived in our fathers’ day”. So! Your own evidence tells against you! You are the sons of those who murdered the prophets! Very well then, finish off the work that your fathers began.’