Daily Readings - Tue Feb 06 2018

First Reading - 1 Kings 8.22-23, 27-30

²²And Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his hands toward heaven:²³And he said, LORD God of Israel, there is no God like thee, in heaven above, or on earth beneath, who keepest covenant and mercy with thy servants that walk before thee with all their heart:²⁷But will God indeed dwell on the earth? behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house that I have builded?²⁸Yet have thou respect unto the prayer of thy servant, and to his supplication, O LORD my God, to hearken unto the cry and to the prayer, which thy servant prayeth before thee to day:²⁹That thine eyes may be open toward this house night and day, even toward the place of which thou hast said, My name shall be there: that thou mayest hearken unto the prayer which thy servant shall make toward this place.³⁰And hearken thou to the supplication of thy servant, and of thy people Israel, when they shall pray toward this place: and hear thou in heaven thy dwelling place: and when thou hearest, forgive.

Gospel - Mark 7.1-13

Mark

Chapter 7

¹Then came together unto him the Pharisees, and certain of the scribes, which came from Jerusalem.²And when they saw some of his disciples eat bread with defiled, that is to say, with unwashen, hands, they found fault.³For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash their hands oft, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders.⁴And when they come from the market, except they wash, they eat not. And many other things there be, which they have received to hold, as the washing of cups, and pots, brasen vessels, and of tables.⁵Then the Pharisees and scribes asked him, Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen hands?⁶He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.⁷Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.⁸For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do.⁹And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.¹⁰For Moses said, Honour thy father and thy mother; and, Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death:¹¹But ye say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, It is Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; he shall be free.¹²And ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother;¹³Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.

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.