First Option - Gospel: Matthew 14:1-12

¹ At that time Herod the tetrarch heard about the fame of Jesus;
² and he said to his servants, “This is John the Baptist, he has been raised from the dead; that is why these powers are at work in him.”
³ For Herod had seized John and bound him and put him in prison, for the sake of Hero’di-as, his brother Philip’s wife;
⁴ because John said to him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.”
⁵ And though he wanted to put him to death, he feared the people, because they held him to be a prophet.
⁶ But when Herod’s birthday came, the daughter of Hero’di-as danced before the company, and pleased Herod,
⁷ so that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she might ask.
⁸ Prompted by her mother, she said, “Give me the head of John the Baptist here on a platter.”
⁹ And the king was sorry; but because of his oaths and his guests he commanded it to be given;
¹⁰ he sent and had John beheaded in the prison,
¹¹ and his head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, and she brought it to her mother.
¹² And his disciples came and took the body and buried it; and they went and told Jesus.