Daily Readings - Wed Feb 12 2020
1 Kings
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.
Mark
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.