Jer. 1:17-19.
The word of the LORD came to Jeremiah: “You, prepare yourself; stand up
and tell them all that I command you. Do not be terrified on account of them,
or I will terrify you before them; For I
am the one who today makes you a fortified city, a pillar of iron, a wall of
bronze, against the whole land: against Judah’s kings and princes, its priests
and the people of the land.
They will fight against you, but not prevail over you, for I am with you to deliver you—oracle of the LORD.
They will fight against you, but not prevail over you, for I am with you to deliver you—oracle of the LORD.
Ps 71(70):1-2.3-4a.5-6ab.15ab.17.
In you, LORD, I take refuge;
let me never be put to shame.
In your justice rescue and deliver me;
incline your ear to me, and save me.
Be my rock of refuge,
a stronghold to give me safety,
for you are my rock and my fortress.
O my God, rescue me from the hand of the wicked.
For you are my hope, O Lord;
my trust, O God, from my youth.
On you I depend from birth;
On you I depend from birth;
from my mother's womb you are my strength.
My mouth shall declare your justice,
day by day your salvation.
O God, you have taught me from my youth,
and till the present I proclaim your wondrous deeds.
let me never be put to shame.
In your justice rescue and deliver me;
incline your ear to me, and save me.
Be my rock of refuge,
a stronghold to give me safety,
for you are my rock and my fortress.
O my God, rescue me from the hand of the wicked.
For you are my hope, O Lord;
my trust, O God, from my youth.
On you I depend from birth;
On you I depend from birth;
from my mother's womb you are my strength.
My mouth shall declare your justice,
day by day your salvation.
O God, you have taught me from my youth,
and till the present I proclaim your wondrous deeds.
Mk 6:17-29.
Herod was the one who had John arrested and bound in prison on 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 him and 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's own daughter came in and 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 once on a platter the head of John the Baptist."
The king was deeply distressed, but because of his oaths and the guests he did not wish to break his word to her.
So he promptly dispatched an executioner with orders to 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.
Commentary of the day :
Byzantine liturgy - Ode and stichera of Matins of 29/08
John had said to Herod, "It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife."
Herodias harbored a grudge against him and 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's own daughter came in and 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 once on a platter the head of John the Baptist."
The king was deeply distressed, but because of his oaths and the guests he did not wish to break his word to her.
So he promptly dispatched an executioner with orders to 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.
Commentary of the day :
Byzantine liturgy - Ode and stichera of Matins of 29/08
Christ's forerunner in death as in life
Prophet born of a prophet
(Lk 1,67), the Lord's baptizer, you were the “voice crying in the desert:
Repent!” (Mt 3,2) who rebuked Herod for his impious lewdness. Therefore you
hastened to proclaim the Kingdom of God to those held captive among the
dead...Forerunner and prophet, baptizer and martyr and, as voice to the Word,
his messenger, his torch: O greatest of the prophets by God's own testimony (Mt
11,9), intercede with the Lord to save from trial and misfortune all those who
lovingly celebrate your shining memory...O come, all you peoples, let us
celebrate this prophet and martyr, the baptizer of our Saviour: he it was who,
as an angel in the flesh (Mt 1:2), reprimanded Herod for his sinful
relationship, condemning his wrongful deed. But because of a dance and an oath,
they struck off the venerable head of the one who proclaims the gospel of the
resurrection from the dead and who unceasingly prays for our soul's salvation
before the Lord.O come, all you faithful, let us celebrate this prophet and
martyr, the baptizer of our Savior: fleeing into the desert, it was there he
found rest, feeding on locusts and wild honey. He rebuked the king who broke
the law. And he warns us cowardly ones, saying: “Repent, for the Kingdom of
heaven is at hand.”
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