August 29, 2018

Reading

The Second Letter of Saint Paul to the Thessalonians   3: 6-10, 16-18

3:6	But we strongly caution you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to draw yourselves away from every brother who is walking in disorder and not according to the tradition that they received from us.
3:7	For you yourselves know the manner in which you ought to imitate us. For we were not disorderly among you.
3:8	Nor did we eat bread from anyone for free, but rather, we worked night and day, in hardship and weariness, so as not to be burdensome to you.
3:9	It was not as if we had no authority, but this was so that we might present ourselves as an example to you, in order to imitate us.
3:10	Then, too, while we were with you, we insisted on this to you: that if anyone was not willing to work, neither should he eat.
3:16	Then may the Lord of peace himself give you an everlasting peace, in every place. May the Lord be with all of you.
3:17	The greeting of Paul with my own hand, which is the seal in every epistle. So do I write.
3:18	May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

Gospel

Mark 6: 17- 29

6:17	For Herod himself had sent to capture John, and had chained him in prison, because of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip; for he had married her.
6:18	For John was saying to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.”
6:19	Now Herodias was devising treachery against him; and she wanted to kill him, but she was unable.
6:20	For Herod was apprehensive of John, knowing him to be a just and holy man, and so he guarded him. And he heard that he was accomplishing many things, and so he listened to him willingly.
6:21	And when an opportune time had arrived, Herod held a feast on his birthday, with the leaders, and the tribunes, and the first rulers of Galilee.
6:22	And when the daughter of the same Herodias had entered, and danced, and pleased Herod, along with those who were at table with him, the king said to the girl, “Request from me whatever you want, and I will give it to you.”
6:23	And he swore to her, “Anything that you request, I will give to you, even up to half my kingdom.”
6:24	And when she had gone out, she said to her mother, “What shall I request?” But her mother said, “The head of John the Baptist.”
6:25	And immediately, when she had entered with haste to the king, she petitioned him, saying: “I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.”
6:26	And the king was greatly saddened. But because of his oath, and because of those who were sitting with him at table, he was not willing to disappoint her.
6:27	So, having sent an executioner, he instructed that his head be brought on a platter.
6:28	And he beheaded him in prison, and he brought his head on a platter. And he gave it to the girl, and the girl gave it her mother.
6:29	When his disciples heard about it, they came and took his body, and they placed it in a tomb.