4TH FRIDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - Gospel (Mark

Описание: 4TH FRIDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
Gospel
(Mark 6:14-29)
King Herod heard about Jesus, 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.”
Others were saying, “He is Elijah”;
still others, “He is a prophet like any of the prophets.”
But when Herod learned of it, he said,
“It is John whom I beheaded. He has been raised up.”
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.
John had said to Herod,
“It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.”
Herodias harbored a grudge against him
and wanted to kill him but was unable to do so.
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.
Herodias 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.
His 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.” 
He even swore many things to her,
“I will grant you whatever you ask of me,
even to half of my kingdom.”
She went out and said to her mother,
“What shall I ask for?”
Her mother replied, “The head of John the Baptist.”
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.”
The king was deeply distressed,
but because of his oaths and the guests
he did not wish to break his word to her.
So he promptly dispatched an executioner
with orders to bring back his head.
He went off and beheaded him in the prison.
He brought in the head on a platter
and gave it to the girl.
The girl in turn gave it to her mother.
When his disciples heard about it,
they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.
The Gospel of the Lord: Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ.

The Word of God for Everyone
Dear people of God,
In today’s Word of God, God speaks to all of humanity about the righteous way of Saint John the Baptist and how this led him to endure many trials and hardships during his earthly life.
And God also makes known how a king, who leads the people, yet lacks justice, purity, and integrity, will have to render an account before God the Father.
God the Father does not want humanity fall into lifestyles of passion, sin, worldliness, hypocrisy, and deceit, which Satan has been and continues to tempt people with greatly.
God the Father wants people to be vigilant at all times and in all places.
Remain vigilant in every word, action, and deed; do not allow Satan to intervene and tempt us into committing sins and displeasing God the Father, as exemplified by King Herod.
It was precisely because of worldly passions, vicious habits, and human prestige, and bound by a mere promise made to a person, that King Herod failed to remain vigilant. He fell into Satan's snares and temptation, disobeying God's will: killing a great prophet who was profoundly just, righteous, pure, upright, good, and holy in the eyes of God the Father, namely Saint John the Baptist.
This event, recounted in the Holy Gospel, teaches humanity a lesson:
Be vigilant in both our words and deeds.
Do not be blinded or consumed by the fleeting gains of this world; do not let the passion for worldly prestige and power cause us to lose our very humanity.
Return to God the Father, abandon the path of sin, and live in reconciliation with Him.
God also calls upon His disciples in today’s world to imitate the courage of Saint John the Baptist, even when facing hardships, trials, persecution, death, and condemnation. He remained wholeheartedly committed to living a life of righteousness and holiness, faithful and loyal to the mission entrusted to him by God the Father.
Through that, God granted him eternal life in the Kingdom of Heaven, and he was praised by God the Father as a great prophet of God, who went before to prepare the way for the Savior.
Today, as the disciples go forth to do God's missionary work, bringing God to all of humanity, do not be afraid or retreat in the face of hardships, trials, and persecution from the world.
Remember that God is the One Who can save both our souls and bodies, while neither mankind nor the world can give us eternal life.
Therefore, trust in God and obediently follow God's holy will as He teaches, courageously live and bear witness to God right here on earth, and fulfill the duty of being a prophet of God the Father.
Thanks be to God. Amen.