29 August 2025 (Friday) / The Beheading of Saint John the Baptist on Friday of week 21 in Ordinary Time / Martyrdom of Saint John the Baptist Obligatory Memorial

29 August 2025 (Friday)

The Beheading of Saint John the Baptist on Friday of week 21 in Ordinary Time.

Martyrdom of Saint John the Baptist Obligatory Memorial.

Readings from the Bible of the Roman Catholic Church:

First Reading: Jer. 1:17-19; 
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 70(71): 1-2,3-4a,5-6ab,15ab,17
Alleluia: Matthew 5: 10
Gospel: Mark 6: 17-29

First Reading : Jer. 1:17-19; 

17. 'As for you, prepare yourself for action. Stand up and tell them all I command you. Have no fear of them and in their presence I will make you fearless.
18. For look, today I have made you into a fortified city, a pillar of iron, a wall of bronze to stand against the whole country: the kings of Judah, its princes, its priests and the people of the country.
19. They will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you, Yahweh declares, to rescue you.'

Responsive Psalm : Psalm 70(71): 1-2,3-4a,5-6ab,15ab,17

R. My lips will tell of your justice, O Lord.

1. In you, Yahweh, I take refuge, I shall never be put to shame.
2. In your saving justice rescue me, deliver me, listen to me and save me.

R. My lips will tell of your justice, O Lord.

3. Be a sheltering rock for me, always accessible; you have determined to save me, for you are my rock, my fortress.
4. My God, rescue me from the clutches of the wicked, from the grasp of the rogue and the ruthless.

R. My lips will tell of your justice, O Lord.

5. For you are my hope, Lord, my trust, Yahweh, since boyhood.
6. On you I have relied since my birth, since my mother's womb you have been my portion, the constant theme of my praise.

R. My lips will tell of your justice, O Lord.

15. My lips shall proclaim your saving justice, your saving power all day long.
17. God, you have taught me from boyhood, and I am still proclaiming your marvels.

R. My lips will tell of your justice, O Lord.

Alleluia: Matthew 5: 10
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
10 Happy those who are persecuted in the cause of right: theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel : Mark 6:17‐29

Herod sent to have John arrested, and had him chained up in prison because of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife whom he had married. For John had told Herod, ‘It is against the law for you to have your brother’s wife.’ As for Herodias, she was furious with him and wanted to kill him; but she was not able to, because Herod was afraid of John, knowing him to be a good and holy man, and gave him his protection. When he had heard him speak he was greatly perplexed, and yet he liked to listen to him. An opportunity came on Herod’s birthday when he gave a banquet for the nobles of his court, for his army officers and for the leading figures in Galilee. When the daughter of this same Herodias came in and danced, she delighted Herod and his guests; so the king said to the girl, ‘Ask me anything you like and I will give it you.’ And he swore her an oath, ‘I will give you anything you ask, even half my kingdom.’ She went out and said to her mother, ‘What shall I ask for?’ She replied, ‘The head of John the Baptist.’ The girl hurried straight back to the king and made her request, ‘I want you to give me John the Baptist’s head, here and now, on a dish.’ The king was deeply distressed but, thinking of the oaths he had sworn and of his guests, he was reluctant to break his word to her. So the king at once sent one of the bodyguard with orders to bring John’s head. The man went off and beheaded him 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 about this, they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.

For our reflection today:

Dear brothers and sisters, celebrating the martyrdom of St John the Baptist reminds us too, Christians of this time, that with love for Christ, for his words and for the Truth, we cannot stoop to compromises. The Truth is Truth; there are no compromises. Christian life demands, so to speak, the “martyrdom” of daily fidelity to the Gospel, the courage, that is, to let Christ grow within us and let him be the One who guides our thought and our actions. However, this can happen in our life only if we have a solid relationship with God. Prayer is not time wasted, it does not take away time from our activities, even apostolic activities, but exactly the opposite is true: only if we are able to have a faithful, constant and trusting life of prayer will God himself give us the ability and strength to live happily and serenely, to surmount difficulties and to witness courageously to him. St John the Baptist, intercede for us, that we may be ever able to preserve the primacy of God in our life. (Pope Benedict XVI, General Audience, Castel Gandolfo, 29 August 2012)

Jonathan Fabian Ginunggil,
Most High Servant,
Jesus, Mary, Joseph Ministry of Love (Blessed  and Saints and the Nine Choirs of Angels)