Daily Readings - Tue Feb 08 2022
1 Kings
22Then Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord, in the sight of the assembly of Israel, and he extended his hands toward heaven23And he said: "Lord God of Israel, there is no God like you, in heaven above, nor on the earth below. You preserve covenant and mercy with your servants, who walk before you with all their heart27Is it, then, to be understood that truly God would dwell upon the earth? For if heaven, and the heavens of heavens, are not able to contain you, how much less this house, which I have built28Yet look with favor upon the prayer of your servant and upon his petitions, O Lord, my God. Listen to the hymn and the prayer, which your servant prays before you this day29so that your eyes may be open over this house, night and day, over the house about which you said, ‘My name shall be there,’ so that you may heed the prayer that your servant is praying in this place to you30So may you heed the supplication of your servant and of your people Israel, whatever they will pray for in this place, and so may you heed them in your dwelling place in heaven. And when you heed, you will be gracious
Mark
1And the Pharisees and some of the scribes, arriving from Jerusalem, gathered together before him2And when they had seen certain ones from his disciples eating bread with common hands, that is, with unwashed hands, they disparaged them3For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, do not eat without repeatedly washing their hands, holding to the tradition of the elders4And when returning from the market, unless they wash, they do not eat. And there are many other things which have been handed down to them to observe: the washings of cups, and pitchers, and bronze containers, and beds5And so the Pharisees and the scribes questioned him: "Why do your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but they eat bread with common hands?6But in response, he said to them: "So well did Isaiah prophesy about you hypocrites, just as it has been written: ‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me7And in vain do they worship me, teaching the doctrines and precepts of men.8For abandoning the commandment of God, you hold to the tradition of men, to the washing of pitchers and cups. And you do many other things similar to these.9And he said to them: "You effectively nullify the precept of God, so that you may observe your own tradition10For Moses said: ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘Whoever will have cursed father or mother, let him die a death.11But you say, ‘If a man will have said to his father or mother: Korban, (which is a gift) whatever is from me will be to your benefit,12then you do not release him to do anything for his father or mother13rescinding the word of God through your tradition, which you have handed down. And you do many other similar things in this way.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the essence of faith and worship, urging us to align our external practices with a genuine internal devotion. In 1 Kings, Solomon dedicates the Temple, acknowledging God's transcendence and humbly requesting that God hear the prayers of His people. This passage emphasizes the importance of sincere prayer and the recognition of God's presence beyond any physical structure.
In the Gospel, Jesus challenges the Pharisees for prioritizing traditions, such as ritual washing, over God's commandments. He criticizes their hypocrisy, where outward practices mask a lack of true faith. This highlights the tension between external rituals and internal devotion, reminding us that our faith should not be reduced to mere observances but should stem from a sincere heart.
These readings call us to examine our own practices, ensuring they reflect a genuine relationship with God. Let us not let traditions overshadow the commandments of love and integrity. May our worship be heartfelt, and may our actions be guided by a deep, sincere faith, honoring God not just with our lips, but with our lives.