Liturgy Alive, Models of Celebrations

Opening Prayer

Lord our God,
John the Baptist spoke without fear
to the high and the mighty
that they too were bound by God’s laws.
He risked his life for what is right and good.
Let him inspire us too
to let your word become flesh and blood in us
by taking the risks of our faith
and living as we believe.
Let this be the way in which we prepare
the fuller coming among us
of Jesus Christ our Lord.

Liturgy of the Word

First Reading Introduction
The letter to the Hebrews gives today to the Christian community a set of moral exhortations. Perseverance in the faith means especially perseverance in love, the basis of all morality.

First Reading: Heb 13:1-8

Let mutual love continue. Do not neglect to offer hospitality; you know that some people have entertained angels without knowing it. Remember prisoners as if you were with them in chains, and the same for those who are suffering. Remember that you also have a body.

Marriage must be respected by all and husband and wife faithful to each other. God will punish the immoral and the adulterous.

Do not depend on money. Be content with having enough for today for God has said: I will never forsake you or abandon you, and we shall confidently answer: The Lord is my helper, I will not fear; what can man do to me? Remember your leaders who taught you the word of God. Consider their end and imitate their faith. Christ Jesus is the same today as yesterday and forever.

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 27:1, 3, 5, 8-9

R. The Lord is my light and my salvation.

The LORD is my light and my salvation;
whom should I fear?
The LORD is my life’s refuge;
of whom should I be afraid?
R. The Lord is my light and my salvation.

Though an army encamp against me,
my heart will not fear;
Though war be waged upon me,
even then will I trust.
R. The Lord is my light and my salvation.

For he will hide me in his abode
in the day of trouble;
He will conceal me in the shelter of his tent,
he will set me high upon a rock.
R. The Lord is my light and my salvation.

Your presence, O LORD, I seek.
Hide not your face from me;
do not in anger repel your servant.
You are my helper: cast me not off.
R. The Lord is my light and my salvation.

Gospel Introduction
With the death of the Baptist ends the life of the last prophet of God of the Old Testament, who, as the hinge between the Old and the New Testaments, had prepared the way for the Lord’s coming. He died as a suffering servant of God, a new Elijah, who stood up to kings and infamous queens.

Gospel Reading: Mk 6:14-29

King Herod heard about Jesus because his name had become well-known. Some people said, “John the Baptist has been raised from the dead and that is why miraculous powers are at work in him.” Others thought, “He is Elijah,” and others, “He is a prophet like the prophets of times past.” When Herod was told of this, he thought: “I had John beheaded, yet he has risen from the dead!”

For this is what had happened. Herod had ordered John to be arrested and had him bound and put in prison because of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip. Herod had married her and John had told him, “It is not right for you to live with your brother’s wife.” So Herodias held a grudge against John and wanted to kill him, but she could not because Herod respected John. He knew John to be an upright and holy man and kept him safe. And he liked listening to him, although he became very disturbed whenever he heard him.

Herodias had her chance on Herod’s birthday, when he gave a dinner for all the senior government officials, military chiefs and the leaders of Galilee. On that occasion the daughter of Herodias came in and danced; and she delighted Herod and his guests. The king said to the girl, “Ask me for anything you want and I will give it to you.” And he went so far as to say with many oaths, “I will give you anything you ask, even half my kingdom.” She went out to consult her mother, “What shall I ask for?” The mother replied, “The head of John the Baptist.” The girl hurried to the king and made her request: “I want you to give me the head of John the Baptist, here and now, on a dish.”

The king was very displeased, but he would not refuse in front of his guests because of his oaths. So he sent one of the bodyguards with orders to bring John’s head. He went and beheaded John in prison; then he brought the head on a dish and gave it to the girl. And the girl gave it to her mother. When John’s disciples heard of this, they came and took his body and buried it.

Commentary

Herod hears of Jesus' work among the people and is afraid. In the tradition of the prophets, like John whom he beheaded, Jesus' call to the people is accompanied by telling the truth about those in power. John decried Herod's killing of his brother so that he could marry her. Herod knew John was holy, liked listening to him even though he was disturbed whenever he heard him. It is Herodias, his stolen wife who has John beheaded at a dinner party, using her daughter to dance and ask for his head. Power and those who have it can be fascinated by goodness and the truth, equally disturbed by it, but if there is no conversion they will imprison it, butcher it and obscenely parade it for their pleasure. John is murdered on a whim. Jesus will be butchered legally. Truth disturbs power. It should disturb us and call us to holiness and allegiance to God, in resistance to evil in others, governments and nations. Let us pray we are faithful like John and Jesus and the prophets of God.

General Intercessions

–   Lord, give us great men and women, even great children, to inspire all of us how to live our faith consistently, we pray:

–   Lord, you know how timid we are. Help us to take the gospel of your Son Jesus seriously by letting your Spirit give us the insight and courage of prophets, we pray:

–   Lord, you see how harsh we often are. Let the gentleness and compassion of good persons give us warm and understanding hearts, we pray:

Prayer over the Gifts

Lord our God,
these are only simple gifts,
a piece of bread and a bit of wine.
Accept them and give us instead
your Son Jesus Christ.
Through the Spirit and his fire
change us, timid people
into signs to everyone and all
of your tenderness and mercy,
your justice and your peace,
that we may bring into our world
the life and message of Jesus our Lord.

Prayer after Communion

God of our hope and future,
your Spirit of wisdom and strength
was alive in Jesus, your Son.
Pour out the same Spirit on us too,
that we may bear witness today
to your faithfulness and love.

And give us always people inspired by you,
prophets like John the Baptist,
to wake us up when we are self-satisfied
and to inspire us to prepare the way
for the full coming of Jesus Christ,
our Savior and our Lord.

Blessing

Like John the Baptist, we can and should show others the road to Christ and prepare the way for his full coming only if we ourselves take his gospel seriously, if the Lord becomes visible in us, his goodness, his compassion, his love. May almighty God bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.