Daily Readings August 4, 2012

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Memorial of Saint John Mary Vianney, priest
Lectionary: 406

Reading 1 Jer 26:11-16, 24

When we last left Jeremiah, he was accosted by an angry mob of people who disliked his prophecies against the nation of Judah.

The priests and prophets said to the princes and to all the people,

The priests and prophets of the Lord addressed the princes and the people

"This man deserves death;
he has prophesied against this city,
as you have heard with your own ears."

They said, "this man deserves to die for saying these things against Jerusalem and the nation of Judah as you have heard!"

Jeremiah gave this answer to the princes and all the people:

Jeremiah replied in his own defense.

"It was the LORD who sent me to prophesy against this house and city
all that you have heard.  Now, therefore, reform your ways and your deeds;
listen to the voice of the LORD your God,  so that the LORD will repent of the evil with which he threatens you.  

I am telling you the truth.  God sent me to warn you about your continuing to do evil in His sight.  Unless you stop, God will destroy this city.

As for me, I am in your hands; do with me what you think good and right.But mark well: if you put me to death, it is innocent blood you bring on yourselves,on this city and its citizens.  For in truth it was the LORD who sent me to you, to speak all these things for you to hear."

As for me, I am in your power.  But if you kill me, remember, I am innocent of your charges.  It was God who sent me to warn you of these things you heard me speak.

Thereupon the princes and all the people said to the priests and the prophets,
"This man does not deserve death; it is in the name of the LORD, our God, that he speaks to us."

Then the princes, the leaders of Jerusalem, said to the priests and prophets, "Jeremiah does not deserve to die.  He is talking to us in the name of God."

So Ahikam, son of Shaphan, protected Jeremiah, so that he was not handed over to the people to be put to death.

And one of them, Ahikam, son of Shaphan, protected Jeremiah, so that he wasn't handed over to the people to be executed.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 69:15-16, 30-31, 33-34

Response. (14c) Lord, in your great love, answer me.

Rescue me out of the mire; may I not sink!
may I be rescued from my foes,
and from the watery depths.
Let not the flood-waters overwhelm me,
nor the abyss swallow me up,
nor the pit close its mouth over me.

R. Lord, in your great love, answer me.

But I am afflicted and in pain;
let your saving help, O God, protect me.
I will praise the name of God in song,
and I will glorify him with thanksgiving.

R. Lord, in your great love, answer me.

"See, you lowly ones, and be glad;
you who seek God, may your hearts revive!
For the LORD hears the poor,
and his own who are in bonds he spurns not."

R. Lord, in your great love, answer me.

The Psalm tells us to turn to God in our troubles.  To whom else can we turn?  Even those who love us can't be in every place at once.  And trouble comes around when we least expect it.  It is to God whom we must always turn.  Only He can save us.

Gospel Mt 14:1-12

Herod the tetrarch heard of the reputation of Jesus

Herod heard about the great feats that Jesus was accomplishing.

and 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."

And because his conscience was bothering him for having executed John the Baptist, he imagined that St. John had come back to life.

Now Herod had arrested John, bound him, and put him in prison
on account of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip,
for John had said to him,
"It is not lawful for you to have her."

Herod had arrested St. John because he preached against Herod's behavior.  Herod had taken his own brother's wife into his bed.

Although he wanted to kill him, he feared the people,for they regarded him as a prophet.

Because of this, he wanted to kill St. John.  But Herod was afraid of the crowds, who regarded St. John as a prophet.

But at a birthday celebration for Herod,the daughter of Herodias performed a dance before the guestsand delighted Herod so muchthat he swore to give her whatever she might ask for.

One day, when Herod was celebrating his own birthday, his stepdaughter, his brother's wife's daughter whom he had taken to his own, pleased him exceedingly with a dance.  And he, publicly, offered her anything which she wanted.

Prompted by her mother, she said, "Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist."

Her mother, who was very happy to be the wife of a rich and powerful king, instead of her true husband's wife, told her to ask for St. John's life.

The king was distressed, but because of his oaths and the guests who were present,
he ordered that it be given, and he had John beheaded in the prison.
His head was brought in on a platter and given to the girl,  who took it to her mother.

Herod was trapped.  Since he had made public oaths to give the girl what she wanted, he ordered St. John beheaded.

His disciples came and took away the corpse and buried him; and they went and told Jesus.

St. John's disciples came and took his body and gave him burial.  Then they informed Jesus.

Sincerely,

De Maria