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Gospel Reading - The death of John the Baptist

¹When King Herod^a heard about Jesus, ²he said to his men, “This must be John the Baptist, come back to life again. That is why he can do these miracles.” ³For Herod had arrested John and chained him in prison at the demand of^b his wife Herodias, his brother Philip’s ex-wife, ⁴because John had told him it was wrong for him to marry her. ⁵He would have killed John but was afraid of a riot, for all the people believed John was a prophet.

⁶But at a birthday party for Herod, Herodias’s daughter performed a dance that greatly pleased him, ⁷so he vowed to give her anything she wanted. ⁸Consequently, at her mother’s urging, the girl asked for John the Baptist’s head on a tray.

⁹The king was grieved, but because of his oath, and because he didn’t want to back down in front of his guests, he issued the necessary orders.

¹⁰So John was beheaded in the prison, ¹¹and his head was brought on a tray and given to the girl, who took it to her mother.

¹² Then John’s disciples came for his body and buried it, and came to tell Jesus what had happened.