Daily Readings - Wed Feb 07 2024
1 Kings
1And when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the LORD, she came to prove him with hard questions.2And she came to Jerusalem with a very great train, with camels that bare spices, and very much gold, and precious stones: and when she was come to Solomon, she communed with him of all that was in her heart.3And Solomon told her all her questions: there was not any thing hid from the king, which he told her not.4And when the queen of Sheba had seen all Solomon's wisdom, and the house that he had built,5And the meat of his table, and the sitting of his servants, and the attendance of his ministers, and their apparel, and his cupbearers, and his ascent by which he went up unto the house of the LORD; there was no more spirit in her.6And she said to the king, It was a true report that I heard in mine own land of thy acts and of thy wisdom.7Howbeit I believed not the words, until I came, and mine eyes had seen it: and, behold, the half was not told me: thy wisdom and prosperity exceedeth the fame which I heard.8Happy are thy men, happy are these thy servants, which stand continually before thee, and that hear thy wisdom.9Blessed be the LORD thy God, which delighted in thee, to set thee on the throne of Israel: because the LORD loved Israel for ever, therefore made he thee king, to do judgment and justice.10And she gave the king an hundred and twenty talents of gold, and of spices very great store, and precious stones: there came no more such abundance of spices as these which the queen of Sheba gave to king Solomon.
Mark
14And when he had called all the people unto him, he said unto them, Hearken unto me every one of you, and understand:15There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him: but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man.16If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.17And when he was entered into the house from the people, his disciples asked him concerning the parable.18And he saith unto them, Are ye so without understanding also? Do ye not perceive, that whatsoever thing from without entereth into the man, it cannot defile him;19Because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught, purging all meats?20And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man.21For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,22Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness:23All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the nature of true wisdom and the purity of heart. In the First Reading, the Queen of Sheba is drawn to King Solomon’s wisdom, which she recognizes as a gift from God. She is not only impressed by Solomon’s knowledge but also by the prosperity and order of Israel, which she attributes to God’s favor. This passage reminds us that true wisdom is not just intellectual knowledge but also the ability to live justly and to recognize God’s presence in the world. The Queen’s visit is a testament to the universal appeal of God’s wisdom, which transcends borders and cultures.
In the Gospel, Jesus shifts our focus from external rituals to the inner state of our hearts. He teaches that what defiles a person is not what enters from outside but what comes out from within. Jesus lists evils such as greed, deceit, and adultery, emphasizing that these vices originate in the heart. This teaching challenges us to examine our own thoughts and actions, recognizing that true purity comes from within. Like the Queen of Sheba, we are called to seek wisdom and to recognize God’s presence in our lives, but we must also attend to the condition of our own hearts.
These readings remind us that our relationship with God is not just about external practices but about the integrity of our lives. The Queen of Sheba’s admiration for Solomon’s wisdom encourages us to seek God’s wisdom in our own lives, while Jesus’ teaching calls us to cultivate purity of heart. As we go about our daily lives, let us strive to live in a way that reflects the wisdom and love of God, both in our actions and in the depths of our hearts. May we, like the Queen of Sheba, be moved to praise God for the gifts we have received, and may we, like Jesus, be mindful of the thoughts and intentions that shape who we are.