Friday, 7 February 2025
Friday, 4th week in Ordinary Time, Year 1
Antiphons on page 773 and Readings on page 792 of the Daily Missal
First Reading: Hebrews 13:1-8
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 27: 1.3.5.8c-9abc (R. 1a)
R/. The Lord is my light and my salvation.
The Lord is my light and my salvation;
whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life;
whom should I dread?
Though an army encamp against me,
my heart would not fear.
Though war break out against me,
even then would I trust.
For there he keeps me safe in his shelter
in the day of evil.
He hides me under cover of his tent;
he sets me high upon a rock.
It is your face, O Lord, that I seek;
hide not your face from me.
Dismiss not your servant in anger;
you have been my help.
R/.
Gospel: Mark 6:14-29
At that time:
King Herod heard of Jesus;
for his name had become known.
Some said, “John the Baptist has been raised from the dead;
that is why these powers are at work in him.”
But others said, “It is Elijah.”
And others said, “It is a prophet,
like one of the prophets of old.”
But when Herod heard of it he said,
“John, whom I beheaded, has been raised.”
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.
For John said to Herod,
“It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.”
And Herodias had a grudge against him
and wanted to kill him.
But she could not, 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.
But an opportunity came
when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet
for his courtiers and officers and the leading men of Galilee.
For when Herodias’ daughter came in and danced,
she pleased Herod and his guests;
and the king said to the girl,
“Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will grant it.”
And he vowed to her,
“Whatever you ask me, I will give you,
even half of my kingdom.”
And she went out, and said to her mother,
“What shall I ask?”
And she said, “The head of John the Baptist.”
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 Baptist on a platter.”
And the king was exceedingly sorry,
but because of his oaths and his guests,
he did not want to break his word to her.
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,
and brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl;
and the girl gave it to her mother.
When his disciples heard of it,
they came and took his body, and laid it in a tomb.
The Gospel of the Lord.
