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| "The Head of Saint John the Baptist on a Charger" -- by James Tissot |
FIRST
READING:
1 Corinthians
1: 17 - 25
17
For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not in
wisdom of speech, lest the cross of Christ should be made void.
18
For the word of the cross, to them indeed that perish, is
foolishness; but to them that are saved, that is, to us, it is the
power of God.
19
For it is written: I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the
prudence of the prudent I will reject.
20
Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this
world? Hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?
21
For seeing that in the wisdom of God the world, by wisdom, knew not
God, it pleased God, by the foolishness of our preaching, to save
them that believe.
22
For both the Jews require signs, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:
23
But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews indeed a
stumblingblock, and unto the Gentiles foolishness:
24
But unto them that are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power
of God, and the wisdom of God.
25
For the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God
is stronger than men.
PSALM:
Psalms 33:
1 - 2, 4 - 5, 10 - 11
1
Rejoice in the Lord, O ye just: praise becometh the upright.
2
Give praise to the Lord on the harp; sing to him with the psaltery,
the instrument of ten strings.
4
For the word of the Lord is right, and all his works are done with
faithfulness.
5
He loveth mercy and judgment; the earth is full of the mercy of the
Lord.
10
The Lord bringeth to naught the counsels of nations; and he rejecteth
the devices of people, and casteth away the counsels of princes.
11
But the counsel of the Lord standeth for ever: the thoughts of his
heart to all generations.
GOSPEL:
Mark 6:
17 - 29
17
For Herod himself had sent and apprehended John, and bound him in
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
she 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 it to the damsel, and the damsel gave it to her mother.
29
Which his disciples hearing came, and took his body, and laid it in a
tomb.
