The 29th of August, 2024, Thursday is the Memorial of the Passion of Saint John the Baptist. The Bible scriptures for the holy mass readings for this day came from the 2024 Liturgical Calendar.
Reading 1: 1 COR 1:1-9
The first reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Corinthians.
Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes, to the assembly of God which is at Corinth-those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called saints, with all who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ in every place, both theirs and ours: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
I always thank my God concerning you for the grace of God which was given you in Christ Jesus, that in everything you were enriched in him, in all speech and all knowledge-even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you-so that you come behind in no gift, waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will also confirm you until the end, blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
God is faithful, through whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Responsorial Psalm: PS 145:2-3, 4-5, 6-7
Response: I will exalt you, my God, the King. I will praise your name forever and ever.
Every day I will praise you. I will extol your name forever and ever.
Great is Yahweh, and greatly to be praised! His greatness is unsearchable.
R: I will exalt you, my God, the King. I will praise your name forever and ever.
One generation will commend your works to another, and will declare your mighty acts.
I will meditate on the glorious majesty of your honor, on your wondrous works.
R: I will exalt you, my God, the King. I will praise your name forever and ever.
Men will speak of the might of your awesome acts. I will declare your greatness.
They will utter the memory of your great goodness, and will sing of your righteousness.
R: I will exalt you, my God, the King. I will praise your name forever and ever.
Gospel of the Day: MK 6:17-29
From the gospel verse according to Mark.
For Herod himself had sent out and arrested John and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, for he had married her.
For John had said to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.”
Herodias set herself against him and desired to kill him, but she couldn’t, for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and kept him safe. When he heard him, he did many things, and he heard him gladly.
Then a convenient day came when Herod on his birthday made a supper for his nobles, the high officers, and the chief men of Galilee.
When the daughter of Herodias herself came in and danced, she pleased Herod and those sitting with him. The king said to the young lady, “Ask me whatever you want, and I will give it to you.”
He swore to her, “Whatever you ask of me, I will give you, up to half of my kingdom.”
She went out and said to her mother, “What shall I ask?” She said, “The head of John the Baptizer.”
She came in immediately with haste to the king and requested, “I want you to give me right now the head of John the Baptizer on a platter.”
The king was exceedingly sorry, but for the sake of his oaths and of his dinner guests, he didn’t wish to refuse her.
Immediately the king sent out a soldier of his guard and commanded to bring John’s head; and he went and beheaded him in the prison, and brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the young lady; and the young lady gave it to her mother.
When his disciples heard this, they came and took up his corpse and laid it in a tomb.