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First Reading: Hebrews 13:1-8
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 27:1, 3, 5, 8-9
Gospel: Mark 6:14-29

First Reading: Hebrews 13:1-8

1

¹ Let mutual love continue.

2

Do not neglect hospitality, for through it some have unknowingly entertained angels.

3

Be mindful of prisoners as if sharing their imprisonment, and of the ill-treated as of yourselves, for you also are in the body.

4

Let marriage be honored among all and the marriage bed be kept undefiled, for God will judge the immoral and adulterers.

5

Let your life be free from love of money but be content with what you have, for he has said, "I will never forsake you or abandon you."

6

Thus we may say with confidence: "The Lord is my helper, (and) I will not be afraid. What can anyone do to me?"

7

Remember your leaders who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.

8

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

Table of Contents Previous Chapter The Catholic Letters

Footnotes

¹ [1-16] After recommendations on social and moral matters (Hebrews 13:1-6), the letter turns to doctrinal issues. The fact that the original leaders are dead should not cause the recipients of this letter to lose their faith (Hebrews 13:7), for Christ still lives and he remains always the same (Hebrews 13:8). They must not rely for their personal sanctification on regulations concerning foods (Hebrews 13:9), nor should they entertain the notion that Judaism and Christianity can be intermingled (Hebrews 13:10; cf the notes on Gal 2:11-14; 2:15-21). As Jesus died separated from his own people, so must the Christian community remain apart from the religious doctrines of Judaism (Hebrews 13:11-14). Christ must be the heart and center of the community (Hebrews 13:15-16).

Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 27:1, 3, 5, 8-9

1

Of David ¹ The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom do I fear? The LORD is my life's refuge; of whom am I afraid?

3

Though an army encamp against me, my heart does not fear; Though war be waged against me, even then do I trust.

5

For God will hide me in his shelter in time of trouble, Will conceal me in the cover of his tent; and set me high upon a rock.

8

² "Come," says my heart, "seek God's face"; your face, LORD, do I seek!

9

Do not hide your face from me; do not repel your servant in anger. You are my help; do not cast me off; do not forsake me, God my savior!

Table of Contents Psalms 27

Footnotes

¹ [Psalm 27] Tradition has handed down the two sections of the psalm (Psalm 27:1-6; 7-14) as one psalm, though each part could be understood as complete in itself. Asserting boundless hope that God will bring rescue (Psalm 27:1-3), the psalmist longs for the presence of God in the temple, protection from all enemies (Psalm 27:4-6). In part B there is a clear shift in tone (Psalm 27:7-12); the climax of the poem comes with "I believe" (Psalm 27:13), echoing "I trust" (Psalm 27:3).

² [8] Seek God's face (literally: "to seek his face"): to commune with God in the temple. The idiom is derived from the practice of journeying to sacred places. Cf Hosea 5:15; 2 Sam 21:1; Psalm 24:6.

Gospel: Mark 6:14-29

14

¹ King Herod ² heard about it, for his fame had become widespread, and people were saying, "John the Baptist has been raised from the dead; that is why mighty powers are at work in him."

15

Others were saying, "He is Elijah"; still others, "He is a prophet like any of the prophets."

16

But when Herod learned of it, he said, "It is John whom I beheaded. He has been raised up."

17

³ 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.

18

John had said to Herod, "It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife."

19

Herodias ⁴ harbored a grudge against him and wanted to kill him but was unable to do so.

20

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.

21

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.

22

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."

23

He even swore (many things) to her, "I will grant you whatever you ask of me, even to half of my kingdom."

24

She went out and said to her mother, "What shall I ask for?" She replied, "The head of John the Baptist."

25

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."

26

The king was deeply distressed, but because of his oaths and the guests he did not wish to break his word to her.

27

So he promptly dispatched an executioner with orders to bring back his head. He went off and beheaded him in the prison.

28

He brought in the head on a platter and gave it to the girl. The girl in turn gave it to her mother.

29

When his disciples heard about it, they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.

Table of Contents Mark 6

Footnotes

¹ [14-16] The various opinions about Jesus anticipate the theme of his identity that reaches its climax in Mark 8:27-30.

² [14] King Herod: see the note on Matthew 14:1.

³ [17-29] Similarities are to be noted between Mark's account of the imprisonment and death of John the Baptist in this pericope, and that of the passion of Jesus (Mark 15:1-47). Herod and Pilate, each in turn, acknowledges the holiness of life of one over whom he unjustly exercises the power of condemnation and death (Mark 6:26-27; 15:9-10, 14-15). The hatred of Herodias toward John parallels that of the Jewish leaders toward Jesus. After the deaths of John and of Jesus, well-disposed persons request the bodies of the victims of Herod and of Pilate in turn to give them respectful burial (Mark 6:29; 15:45-46).

⁴ [19] Herodias: see the note on Matthew 14:3.