Daily Readings - Tue Feb 06 2018
1 Kings
22Then Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of all the assembly of Israel and spread out his hands toward heaven,23and said, "O LORD, God of Israel, there is no God like you, in heaven above or on earth beneath, keeping covenant and showing steadfast love to your servants who walk before you with all their heart,27"But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain you; how much less this house that I have built!28Yet have regard to the prayer of your servant and to his plea, O LORD my God, listening to the cry and to the prayer that your servant prays before you this day,29that your eyes may be open night and day toward this house, the place of which you have said, 'My name shall be there,' that you may listen to the prayer that your servant offers toward this place.30And listen to the plea of your servant and of your people Israel, when they pray toward this place. And listen in heaven your dwelling place, and when you hear, forgive.
Mark
1Now when the Pharisees gathered to him, with some of the scribes who had come from Jerusalem,2they saw that some of his disciples ate with hands that were defiled, that is, unwashed.3(For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash their hands, holding to the tradition of the elders,4and when they come from the marketplace, they do not eat unless they wash. And there are many other traditions that they observe, such as the washing of cups and pots and copper vessels and dining couches. )5And the Pharisees and the scribes asked him, "Why do your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat with defiled hands?"6And he said to them, "Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, "'This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me;7in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.'8You leave the commandment of God and hold to the tradition of men."9And he said to them, "You have a fine way of rejecting the commandment of God in order to establish your tradition!10For Moses said, 'Honor your father and your mother'; and, 'Whoever reviles father or mother must surely die.'11But you say, 'If a man tells his father or his mother, Whatever you would have gained from me is Corban' (that is, given to God)--12then you no longer permit him to do anything for his father or mother,13thus making void the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And many such things you do."
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the nature of worship, tradition, and the relationship between God and humanity. In the first reading, Solomon dedicates the Temple in Jerusalem, acknowledging God’s transcendence while humbly asking for God’s presence and favor. He recognizes that even the heavens cannot contain God, yet he petitions for God’s attention and grace upon the Temple and the people. This passage emphasizes the importance of prayer, humility, and trust in God’s providence. Solomon’s words remind us that true worship is not about the grandeur of a physical structure but about the sincerity of the heart.
In the Gospel, Jesus critiques the Pharisees and scribes for prioritizing human traditions over God’s commandments. They focus on rituals like hand-washing and the cleansing of vessels, yet they neglect the deeper truths of faith. Jesus quotes Isaiah to expose their hypocrisy: they honor God with their lips, but their hearts are far from him. He condemns their practice of nullifying God’s laws, such as the commandment to honor one’s parents, by elevating their own traditions. This passage challenges us to examine our own practices and ensure that our faith is rooted in love and sincerity rather than empty rituals.
Both readings call us to authenticity in our relationship with God. Solomon’s prayer teaches us to approach God with humility and trust, recognizing that true worship is not confined to a physical place but flows from a sincere heart. Jesus’ words warn us against allowing traditions or rules to overshadow the substance of our faith. In our daily lives, let us strive to balance reverence for tradition with a deeper commitment to living out God’s commandments. May our worship and actions reflect a genuine love for God, untainted by hypocrisy or superficiality.