Monday, February 24, 2025
Liturgical Season: 
II The Season of Yaldo-Denho
Special Significance: 
Finding of the Head of St. John the Baptist

Rom 3:10-20

10as it is written:g

“There is no one just, not one,

11there is no one who understands,

there is no one who seeks God.

12All have gone astray; all alike are worthless;

there is not one who does good,

[there is not] even one.

13Their throats are open graves;

they deceive with their tongues;

the venom of asps is on their lips;h

14their mouths are full of bitter cursing.i

15Their feet are quick to shed blood;j

16ruin and misery are in their ways,

17and the way of peace they know not.

18There is no fear of God before their eyes.”k

19Now we know that what the law* says is addressed to those under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world stand accountable to God,l 20since no human being will be justified in his sight* by observing the law; for through the law comes consciousness of sin.m

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.