Friday, February 03, 2012 {St. Blaise, Bishop and Martyr (Optional Memorial)}

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
Let nothing trouble you. Let nothing frighten you. Everything passes. God never changes. Patience obtains all. Whoever has God wants for nothing. God alone is enough.
-- St. Teresa of Jesus

READINGS FOR TODAY
First Reading: Sirach 47:2-11
(David)
2 As the choice fat portion of the fellowship offering is reserved for the Lord, so David was chosen from among the Israelites.
3 He played with lions and bears as if they were lambs or little goats.
4 When he was still a boy, he killed a giant to rescue his people. He put a stone in his sling, took aim, and put an end to Goliath's bragging.

5 He prayed to the Lord, the Most High, and was given the strength to kill that famous soldier, so that the nations would have respect for the power of his people.
6 The people honored him for killing his tens of thousands, and when he was crowned king, they praised him for being chosen by the Lord.
7 He wiped out all his enemies and permanently crushed the Philistines, so that they never again became a threat.
8 In everything David did, he gave thanks and praise to the Holy Lord, the Most High. He loved his Creator and sang praises to him with all his heart.
9 He put singers at the altar to provide beautiful music.
10 He set the times of the festivals throughout the year and made them splendid occasions; the Temple rang with the Lord's praises all day long.
11 The Lord forgave David's sin and established his power forever. He made a covenant with him that he and his descendants would reign in splendor over Israel.
Psalms: Psalm 18:31, 47, 50-51
31 For who is God, except Yahweh? Who is a rock, besides our God,
47 Even the God who executes vengeance for me, And subdues peoples under me.
50 He gives great deliverance to his king, And shows loving kindness to his anointed, To David and to his seed, forevermore.
Gospel: Mark 6:14-29
(The Death of John the Baptist)
14 King Herod heard this, for his name had become known, and he said, “John the Baptizer has risen from the dead, and therefore these powers are at work in him.”
15 But others said, “It is Elijah.” Others said, “It is the Prophet, or like one of the prophets.”
16 But Herod, when he heard this, said, “This is John, whom I beheaded. He has risen from the dead.”
17 For Herod himself had sent out and arrested John, and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, for he had married her.
18 For John said to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.”
19 Herodias set herself against him, and desired to kill him, but she couldn’t,
20 for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and kept him safe. When he heard him, he did many things, and he heard him gladly.
21 Then a convenient day came, that Herod on his birthday made a supper for his nobles, the high officers, and the chief men of Galilee.
22 When the daughter of Herodias herself came in and danced, she pleased Herod and those sitting with him. The king said to the young lady, “Ask me whatever you want, and I will give it to you.”
23 He swore to her, “Whatever you shall ask of me, I will give you, up to half of my kingdom.”
24 She went out, and said to her mother, “What shall I ask?”
She said, “The head of John the Baptizer.”
25 She came in immediately with haste to the king, and asked, “I want you to give me right now the head of John the Baptizer on a platter.”
26 The king was exceedingly sorry, but for the sake of his oaths, and of his dinner guests, he didn’t wish to refuse her.
27 Immediately the king sent out a soldier of his guard, and commanded to bring John’s head, and he went and beheaded him in the prison,
28 and brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the young lady; and the young lady gave it to her mother.
29 When his disciples heard this, they came and took up his corpse, and laid it in a tomb.