Thursday, February 24, 2022
Liturgical Season: 
II The Season of Yaldo-Denho
Special Significance: 
Finding of the Head of St. John the Baptist

Eph 6:5-9

Slaves and Masters. 5Slaves, be obedient to your human masters with fear and trembling, in sincerity of heart, as to Christ,d 6not only when being watched, as currying favor, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart,e 7willingly serving the Lord and not human beings, 8knowing that each will be requited from the Lord for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free. 9Masters, act in the same way toward them, and stop bullying, knowing that both they and you have a Master in heaven and that with him there is no partiality.f

Mt 14:1-12

Herod’s Opinion of Jesus. 1* a At that time Herod the tetrarch* b heard of the reputation of Jesusc 2and said to his servants, “This man is John the Baptist. He has been raised from the dead; that is why mighty powers are at work in him.”

The Death of John the Baptist. 3d Now Herod had arrested John, bound [him], and put him in prison on account of Herodias,* the wife of his brother Philip, 4e for John had said to him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.” 5f Although he wanted to kill him, he feared the people, for they regarded him as a prophet. 6But at a birthday celebration for Herod, the daughter of Herodias performed a dance before the guests and delighted Herod 7so much that he swore to give her whatever she might ask for. 8Prompted by her mother, she said, “Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist.” 9The king was distressed, but because of his oaths and the guests who were present, he ordered that it be given, 10and he had John beheaded in the prison. 11His head was brought in on a platter and given to the girl, who took it to her mother. 12His disciples came and took away the corpse and buried him; and they went and told Jesus.