Daily Catholic Mass Readings for February 12, 2020
First Reading: 1 Kings 10.1-10
1Now when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the LORD, she came to test him with hard questions.2She came to Jerusalem with a very great retinue, with camels bearing spices and very much gold and precious stones. And when she came to Solomon, she told him all that was on her mind.3And Solomon answered all her questions; there was nothing hidden from the king that he could not explain to her.4And when the queen of Sheba had seen all the wisdom of Solomon, the house that he had built,5the food of his table, the seating of his officials, and the attendance of his servants, their clothing, his cupbearers, and his burnt offerings that he offered at the house of the LORD, there was no more breath in her.6And she said to the king, "The report was true that I heard in my own land of your words and of your wisdom,7but I did not believe the reports until I came and my own eyes had seen it. And behold, the half was not told me. Your wisdom and prosperity surpass the report that I heard.8Happy are your men! Happy are your servants, who continually stand before you and hear your wisdom!9Blessed be the LORD your God, who has delighted in you and set you on the throne of Israel! Because the LORD loved Israel forever, he has made you king, that you may execute justice and righteousness."10Then she gave the king 120 talents of gold, and a very great quantity of spices and precious stones. Never again came such an abundance of spices as these that the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon.
Psalm 37
1Fret not yourself because of evildoers; be not envious of wrongdoers!2For they will soon fade like the grass and wither like the green herb.3Trust in the LORD, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness.4Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.5Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him, and he will act.6He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday.7Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices!8Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil.9For the evildoers shall be cut off, but those who wait for the LORD shall inherit the land.10In just a little while, the wicked will be no more; though you look carefully at his place, he will not be there.11But the meek shall inherit the land and delight themselves in abundant peace.12The wicked plots against the righteous and gnashes his teeth at him,13but the Lord laughs at the wicked, for he sees that his day is coming.14The wicked draw the sword and bend their bows to bring down the poor and needy, to slay those whose way is upright;15their sword shall enter their own heart, and their bows shall be broken.16Better is the little that the righteous has than the abundance of many wicked.17For the arms of the wicked shall be broken, but the LORD upholds the righteous.18The LORD knows the days of the blameless, and their heritage will remain forever;19they are not put to shame in evil times; in the days of famine they have abundance.20But the wicked will perish; the enemies of the LORD are like the glory of the pastures; they vanish--like smoke they vanish away.21The wicked borrows but does not pay back, but the righteous is generous and gives;22for those blessed by the LORD shall inherit the land, but those cursed by him shall be cut off.23The steps of a man are established by the LORD, when he delights in his way;24though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the LORD upholds his hand.25I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging for bread.26He is ever lending generously, and his children become a blessing.27Turn away from evil and do good; so shall you dwell forever.28For the LORD loves justice; he will not forsake his saints. They are preserved forever, but the children of the wicked shall be cut off.29The righteous shall inherit the land and dwell upon it forever.30The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks justice.31The law of his God is in his heart; his steps do not slip.32The wicked watches for the righteous and seeks to put him to death.33The LORD will not abandon him to his power or let him be condemned when he is brought to trial.34Wait for the LORD and keep his way, and he will exalt you to inherit the land; you will look on when the wicked are cut off.35I have seen a wicked, ruthless man, spreading himself like a green laurel tree.36But he passed away, and behold, he was no more; though I sought him, he could not be found.37Mark the blameless and behold the upright, for there is a future for the man of peace.38But transgressors shall be altogether destroyed; the future of the wicked shall be cut off.39The salvation of the righteous is from the LORD; he is their stronghold in the time of trouble.40The LORD helps them and delivers them; he delivers them from the wicked and saves them, because they take refuge in him.
Gospel: Mark 7.14-23
14And he called the people to him again and said to them, "Hear me, all of you, and understand:15There is nothing outside a person that by going into him can defile him, but the things that come out of a person are what defile him."16See Footnote17And when he had entered the house and left the people, his disciples asked him about the parable.18And he said to them, "Then are you also without understanding? Do you not see that whatever goes into a person from outside cannot defile him,19since it enters not his heart but his stomach, and is expelled?" (Thus he declared all foods clean.)20And he said, "What comes out of a person is what defiles him.21For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery,22coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness.23All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person."
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the nature of true wisdom and purity. In the First Reading, the Queen of Sheba is drawn to King Solomon’s wisdom and the prosperity of Israel, recognizing the hand of God at work. Her visit is not just a diplomatic gesture but a pilgrimage of sorts, as she seeks to understand and marvel at the gifts God has bestowed upon His people. The Queen’s awe and humility remind us that wisdom is not just about knowledge but about recognizing and reverence for the divine.
In the Gospel, Jesus shifts our focus from external observances to the inner state of our hearts. He teaches that it is not what enters from outside that defiles us, but rather the evil that comes from within—thoughts of greed, malice, and deceit. This is a profound reminder that true purity and holiness are not achieved through rigid external rules but by cultivating a heart that loves God and neighbor. Jesus calls us to self-reflection and conversion, urging us to acknowledge the darkness within and to seek healing and transformation through Him.
Both readings, in their own way, point us to the importance of seeking wisdom and purity in our daily lives. Like the Queen of Sheba, we are called to approach God and His ways with humility and openness, recognizing the blessings He pours into our lives. And like the disciples in the Gospel, we are invited to look inward, to confront our own weaknesses, and to allow Christ to purify our hearts. May we strive to live with integrity, letting our actions and decisions flow from a heart that is truly transformed by God’s grace.