First Reading

Hebrews 13:1-8

1May fraternal charity remain in you. 2And do not be willing to forget hospitality. For by it, certain persons, without realizing it, have received Angels as guests. 3Remember those who are prisoners, just as if you were imprisoned with them, and those who endure hardships, just as if you were in their place. 4May marriage be honorable in every way, and may the marriage bed be immaculate. For God will judge fornicators and adulterers. 5Let your behavior be without avarice; be content with what you are offered. For he himself has said, “I will not abandon you, and I will not neglect you.” 6So then, we may confidently say, “The Lord is my helper. I will not fear what man can do to me.” 7Remember your leaders, who have spoken the Word of God to you, whose faith you imitate, by observing the goal of their way of life: 8Jesus Christ, yesterday and today; Jesus Christ forever.

Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 26

1A Psalm of David, before he was sealed. The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear? The Lord is the protector of my life, of whom shall I be afraid? 2Meanwhile, the guilty draw near to me, so as to eat my flesh. Those who trouble me, my enemies, have themselves been weakened and have fallen. 3If entrenched armies were to stand together against me, my heart would not fear. If a battle were to rise up against me, I would have hope in this. 4One thing I have asked of the Lord, this I will seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, so that I may behold the delight of the Lord, and may visit his temple. 5For he has hidden me in his tabernacle. In the day of evils, he has protected me in the hidden place of his tabernacle.

Gospel

Mark 6:14-29

14And king Herod heard of it, (for his name had become well-known) and he said: “John the Baptist has risen again from the dead, and because of this, miracles are at work in him.” 15But others were saying, “Because it is Elijah.” Still others were saying, “Because he is a prophet, like one of the prophets.” 16When Herod had heard it, he said, “John whom I beheaded, the same has risen again from the dead.” 17For Herod himself had sent to capture John, and had chained him in prison, because of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip; for he had married her. 18For John was saying to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” 19Now Herodias was devising treachery against him; and she wanted to kill him, but she was unable. 20For Herod was apprehensive of John, knowing him to be a just and holy man, and so he guarded him. And he heard that he was accomplishing many things, and so he listened to him willingly. 21And when an opportune time had arrived, Herod held a feast on his birthday, with the leaders, and the tribunes, and the first rulers of Galilee. 22And when the daughter of the same Herodias had entered, and danced, and pleased Herod, along with those who were at table with him, the king said to the girl, “Request from me whatever you want, and I will give it to you.” 23And he swore to her, “Anything that you request, I will give to you, even up to half my kingdom.” 24And when she had gone out, she said to her mother, “What shall I request?” But her mother said, “The head of John the Baptist.” 25And immediately, when she had entered with haste to the king, she petitioned him, saying: “I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.” 26And the king was greatly saddened. But because of his oath, and because of those who were sitting with him at table, he was not willing to disappoint her. 27So, having sent an executioner, he instructed that his head be brought on a platter. 28And he beheaded him in prison, and he brought his head on a platter. And he gave it to the girl, and the girl gave it her mother. 29When his disciples heard about it, they came and took his body, and they placed it in a tomb.