ah voyages of christ the love of god and the communion of the holy spirit be with you all and with your spirit let us the knowledge of our sins and scope of power selves celebrate the sacred mysteries i can pass to almighty god and see you in our brothers and sisters that i have greatly said in my thoughts and in my words in what i have done and in what i have felt the due to my fa god forever and ever  reading from the book of the prophet jeremiah the word of the lord came to me thus gird your loins stand up and tell them all busy that i command you be not crushed on their account as though i would leave you crushed before them for it is i this day who have made you a fortified city a pillar of iron a wall of brass against the whole land against judas kings and princes against its pr and people they will fight against you but not prevail over you for i am with you to deliver you says the lord the word of the lord i will sing your salvation and you all lord i take refuge let me never be put to shame and your justice rescue me and deliver me incline your ear to me and save me i will sing your trust of god from my youth a new idea penned from birth from my mother's womb you are my strength i will sing yourself patient my mouth shall declare your justice day by day your salvation of god you prison on account of her odious the wife of his brother philip whom he had married john had said to harry it is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife the rodeos harbored a grudge against him and wanted to kill him but was unable to do so herod feared john knowing him to be a righteous and holy man and kept him in custody when he heard him speak he was very much perplexed as he liked to listen to him she had the opportunity one day when herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his court is his military officers and the leading men of galilee herodes his own daughter came in and performed a dance that delighted herod and his guests the king said to the girl ask of me whatever you wish and i will grant it to you even swore many things to her i will grant you whatever you ask of me even to half of 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 back to the king's presence and made her request i want you to give me at once on a platter the head of john the baptist the king was deeply distressed but because of his oaths and the  guests he did not wish to break his word to heart so he promptly dispatched an executioner with orders to bring back his head he went off and beheaded him in prison he brought in the head on a platter and gave it to the girl the girl in turn gave it to her mother when his disciples heard about it they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb the gospel of the war two things might be said just briefly you know one is was it worth it was it worth it for john the baptist's to denounce herod for a marriage that was prohibited by jewish law was this really worth it to lose his life and of course the answer will be yes he's giving this great witness even to this present day a witness to truth something that we all have to at times get thought to be interfered in the personal life of a man of power and it cost him his life  importance of living courageous convictions in all life and they may cost us if we have a public life a public role at all to be strong in preaching always tru the nd thing that might be just said is we call the feast not the martyrdom of john the baptist but the passion of john the baptist and that suggests the suffering that john the baptist's went through while he was in prison before someone came in and took his head off and the passion of john the baptist's we have the hint of that when he asked he sent a message to  are you the one that we are truly waiting for it suggests he went through some darkness there in that imprisonment and jesus will send back a message no tell john the lame all walking the blind now see the lepers of clans the dead have been raise bless it is the one who takes no offense at me and it's again a very and all that wants to hear those words blessed is the one who takes no offense at what i ask of them in their life but it's acknowledge the greatness of john the baptist's also and th e giving up of his life the deep faith of this man even to the last moment of his life that my sacrifice and yours may be acceptable to god the almighty father through these offerings which we bring you all board grant that we may make straight your paths as taught by that voice crying in the desert saint john the baptist who powerfully sealed his teaching by the shedding of his blood through christ all boy the lord be with you lift up your hearts let us give thanks to the lord our god baptist we praise you a great laurie for you consecrated him for a singular honor among those born of women his birth brought great rejoicing even in the warm up for joy at the coming of human salvation he alone of all the prophets pointed out the lamb of redemption and to make holy the flowing waters he baptized the very author of baptism and was make them home and you never cease to gather a people to yourselves so that from the rising of the sun to its setting a pure sacrifice may be offered to your name by the scenes spirit graciously makes holy these as we have brought to you so consecration that they may become the body and blood of your son all the more jesus  there for almost as we celebrate the memorial of the saving passion of your son his wondrous resurrection and ascension into heaven and as we look forward to his nd coming we offer you in thanksgiving an inheritance with your lack especially with the most plus a virgin mary mother of god with lots at st joseph her spouse with you will bless that apostles and glorious martyrs with st john the baptist  and with all the same on whose constant intercession in your presence we rely for unfailing hope made this sacrifice of our reconciliation we pray oh lord and vance the peace and  clergy and the entire people you have gained for your listen graciously to the prayers of this family whom you have summoned before you and your compassion a merciful father gather to yourself or your children scattered throughout the world to our departed brothers and sisters and to all who are pleasing to you at their passing from this life you have kind that mittens to your kingdom there through him and with him and in all god almighty father in the unity of the holy spirit all glory and honor is yours forever and ever