Daily Readings - Tue Feb 08 2022
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 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.