Gospel: August 29, 2025
August 29, 2025 (Friday)
The Passion of St. John the Baptist
Psalter: Proper / (Red
Ps 97:1 & 2b, 5-6, 10, 11-12
Rejoice in the Lord, you just!
1st Reading: 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8
Gospel: Mark 6:17-29
For this is what had happened: Herod had ordered John to be arrested; and had him bound and put in prison because of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip. Herod had married her; and John had told him, “It is not right for you to live with your brother’s wife.” So Herodias held a grudge against John and wanted to kill him; but she could not, because Herod respected John.
He knew John to be an upright and holy man, and kept him safe. And he liked listening to him; although he became very disturbed whenever he heard him. Herodias had her chance on Herod’s birthday, when he gave a dinner for all the senior government officials, military chiefs, and the leaders of Galilee. On that occasion, the daughter of Herodias came in and danced; and she delighted Herod and his guests.
The king said to the girl, “Ask me for anything you want and I will give it to you.” And he went so far as to say with many oaths, “I will give you anything you ask, even half my kingdom.” She went out and said to her mother, “What shall I ask for?” The mother replied, “The head of John the Baptist.” The girl hurried to the king and made her request, “I want you to give me the head of John the Baptist, here and now, on a dish.”
The king was very displeased, but he would not refuse in front of his guests because of his oaths. So he sent one of the bodyguards, with orders to bring John’s head. He went and beheaded John in prison; then he brought the head on a dish and gave it to the girl. And the girl gave it to her mother. When John’s disciples heard of this, they came and took his body and buried it.
Reflection:
“God has called us to live in holiness.”
Saint John the Baptist is one of the very few saints who has more than one feast in the liturgical calendar. We celebrate both John’s birth and his death, indicating his pivotal importance as the last prophet before the coming of Christ, as the one who prepares the way for our Savior.
John could be seen as the bridge between the Old and New Testaments. Saint Paul instructs us that we are to live by the Holy Spirit and not by uncontrolled emotions in such a way that we make irrational, unspiritual choices.
Thus, we are to be led by the Spirit and not “led by lust.” This is also the message of Saint John the Baptist, as he challenges King Herod who has not respected the marriage of his brother. Saint Paul says that God has called us to live in holiness.
John the Baptist is a martyr for this call to holiness, which he preached as a message of repentance and conversion of life, so that people would be ready to welcome Christ. Herod and Herodias didn’t want to listen and wished to silence John. In contrast, may our ears be open to his call to holiness.
