Passion of Saint John the Baptist

26So take care of your vocation, brothers. For not many are wise according to the flesh, not many are powerful, not many are noble. 27But God has chosen the foolish of the world, so that he may confound the wise. And God has chosen the weak of the world, so that he may confound the strong. 28And God has chosen the ignoble and contemptible of the world, those who are nothing, so that he may reduce to nothing those who are something. 29So then, nothing that is of the flesh should glory in his sight. 30But you are of him in Christ Jesus, who was made by God to be our wisdom and justice and sanctification and redemption. 31And so, in the same way, it was written: “Whoever glories, should glory in the Lord.”

12Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people whom he has chosen as his inheritance.

13The Lord has looked down from heaven. He has seen all the sons of men.

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18Behold, the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him and on those who hope in his mercy,

19so as to rescue their souls from death and to feed them during famine.

20Our soul remains with the Lord. For he is our helper and protector.

21For in him, our heart will rejoice, and in his holy name, we have hoped.

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.