WHAT SHALL I ASK FOR ?

TUESDAY WEEK 21 IN ORDINARY TIME Universalis

THE BEHEADING OF JOHN THE BAPTIST

O Lord, you search me and you know me

Reading 1 Thessalonians 2:1-8 

We were eager to hand over to you not only the Good News but our whole lives

You know yourselves, my brothers, that our visit to you has not proved ineffectual. 

We had, as you know, been given rough treatment and been grossly insulted at Philippi, and it was our God who gave us the courage to proclaim his Good News to you in the face of great opposition. We have not taken to preaching because we are deluded, or immoral, or trying to deceive anyone; it was God who decided that we were fit to be entrusted with the Good News, and when we are speaking, we are not trying to please men but God, who can read our inmost thoughts. You know very well, and we can swear it before God, that never at any time have our speeches been simply flattery, or a cover for trying to get money; nor have we ever looked for any special honour from men, either from you or anybody else, when we could have imposed ourselves on you with full weight, as apostles of Christ. 

Instead, we were unassuming. Like a mother feeding and looking after her own children, we felt so devoted and protective towards you, and had come to love you so much, that we were eager to hand over to you not only the Good News but our whole lives as well.

Responsorial Psalm: O Lord, you search me and you know me

Gospel Mark 617-29 The beheading of John the Baptist

CDR: Herod sent to have John arrested, and had him chained up in prison because of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife whom he had married. For John had told Herod, ‘It is against the law for you to have your brother’s wife.’ As for Herodias, she was furious with him and wanted to kill him; but she was not able to, because Herod was afraid of John, knowing him to be a good and holy man, and gave him his protection. When he had heard him speak he was greatly perplexed, and yet he liked to listen to him.

An opportunity came on Herod’s birthday when he gave a banquet for the nobles of his court, for his army officers and for the leading figures in Galilee. When the daughter of this same Herodias came in and danced, she delighted Herod and his guests; so the king said to the girl, ‘Ask me anything you like and I will give it you.’ And he swore her an oath, ‘I will give you anything you ask, even half my kingdom.’ She went out and said to her mother, ‘What shall I ask for?’ She replied, ‘The head of John the Baptist.’ The girl hurried straight back to the king and made her request, ‘I want you to give me John the Baptist’s head, here and now, on a dish.’ The king was deeply distressed but, thinking of the oaths he had sworn and of his guests, he was reluctant to break his word to her. So the king at once sent one of the bodyguard with orders to bring John’s head. The man went off and beheaded him 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 about this, they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.

O Lord, you search me and you know me. What shall I ask from my God. The life of my perceived enemy?. The life of those who tell me truth about my faults? The life of those who try to correct me whenever I am wrong? The life of those who offended me? Those who caused me pains? The life of those who disappoint me? The life of those who cheated on me? The life of those who betrayed me?Father our Lord and Master said to forgive. What shall I ask from my Father? . Father you search my heart, you know me through and through. I ask for the gift of your Holy Spirit. Your Spirit will bring me knowledge of you and guide all my actions.

Lord Jesus I trust in you. Virgin Mary pray for me. Saint Joseph pray for me. Saint John the Baptist pray for me. God's Angels and Saints pray for me. My Angel Guardian pray for me.

Pray the Holy Rosary: Blessed Virgin Mary Queen of Apostles, my Queen pray for me.