Daily Catholic Mass Readings for February 13, 2020
First Reading: 1 Kings 11.4-13
4As Solomon grew old, his wives turned his heart after other gods, and his heart was not fully devoted to the LORD his God, as the heart of David his father had been.5He followed Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, and Molech the detestable god of the Ammonites.6So Solomon did evil in the eyes of the LORD; he did not follow the LORD completely, as David his father had done.7On a hill east of Jerusalem, Solomon built a high place for Chemosh the detestable god of Moab, and for Molech the detestable god of the Ammonites.8He did the same for all his foreign wives, who burned incense and offered sacrifices to their gods.9The LORD became angry with Solomon because his heart had turned away from the LORD, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice.10Although he had forbidden Solomon to follow other gods, Solomon did not keep the LORD's command.11So the LORD said to Solomon, "Since this is your attitude and you have not kept my covenant and my decrees, which I commanded you, I will most certainly tear the kingdom away from you and give it to one of your subordinates.12Nevertheless, for the sake of David your father, I will not do it during your lifetime. I will tear it out of the hand of your son.13Yet I will not tear the whole kingdom from him, but will give him one tribe for the sake of David my servant and for the sake of Jerusalem, which I have chosen."
Psalm 106
1Praise the LORD. Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.2Who can proclaim the mighty acts of the LORD or fully declare his praise?3Blessed are they who maintain justice, who constantly do what is right.4Remember me, O LORD, when you show favor to your people, come to my aid when you save them,5that I may enjoy the prosperity of your chosen ones, that I may share in the joy of your nation and join your inheritance in giving praise.6We have sinned, even as our fathers did; we have done wrong and acted wickedly.7When our fathers were in Egypt, they gave no thought to your miracles; they did not remember your many kindnesses, and they rebelled by the sea, the Red Sea.8Yet he saved them for his name's sake, to make his mighty power known.9He rebuked the Red Sea, and it dried up; he led them through the depths as through a desert.10He saved them from the hand of the foe; from the hand of the enemy he redeemed them.11The waters covered their adversaries; not one of them survived.12Then they believed his promises and sang his praise.13But they soon forgot what he had done and did not wait for his counsel.14In the desert they gave in to their craving; in the wasteland they put God to the test.15So he gave them what they asked for, but sent a wasting disease upon them.16In the camp they grew envious of Moses and of Aaron, who was consecrated to the LORD.17The earth opened up and swallowed Dathan; it buried the company of Abiram.18Fire blazed among their followers; a flame consumed the wicked.19At Horeb they made a calf and worshiped an idol cast from metal.20They exchanged their Glory for an image of a bull, which eats grass.21They forgot the God who saved them, who had done great things in Egypt,22miracles in the land of Ham and awesome deeds by the Red Sea.23So he said he would destroy them- had not Moses, his chosen one, stood in the breach before him to keep his wrath from destroying them.24Then they despised the pleasant land; they did not believe his promise.25They grumbled in their tents and did not obey the LORD.26So he swore to them with uplifted hand that he would make them fall in the desert,27make their descendants fall among the nations and scatter them throughout the lands.28They yoked themselves to the Baal of Peor and ate sacrifices offered to lifeless gods;29they provoked the LORD to anger by their wicked deeds, and a plague broke out among them.30But Phinehas stood up and intervened, and the plague was checked.31This was credited to him as righteousness for endless generations to come.32By the waters of Meribah they angered the LORD, and trouble came to Moses because of them;33for they rebelled against the Spirit of God, and rash words came from Moses' lips.34They did not destroy the peoples as the LORD had commanded them,35but they mingled with the nations and adopted their customs.36They worshiped their idols, which became a snare to them.37They sacrificed their sons and their daughters to demons.38They shed innocent blood, the blood of their sons and daughters, whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan, and the land was desecrated by their blood.39They defiled themselves by what they did; by their deeds they prostituted themselves.40Therefore the LORD was angry with his people and abhorred his inheritance.41He handed them over to the nations, and their foes ruled over them.42Their enemies oppressed them and subjected them to their power.43Many times he delivered them, but they were bent on rebellion and they wasted away in their sin.44But he took note of their distress when he heard their cry;45for their sake he remembered his covenant and out of his great love he relented.46He caused them to be pitied by all who held them captive.47Save us, O LORD our God, and gather us from the nations, that we may give thanks to your holy name and glory in your praise.48Praise be to the LORD, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Let all the people say, "Amen!" Praise the LORD.
Gospel: Mark 7.24-30
24Jesus left that place and went to the vicinity of Tyre. He entered a house and did not want anyone to know it; yet he could not keep his presence secret.25In fact, as soon as she heard about him, a woman whose little daughter was possessed by an evil spirit came and fell at his feet.26The woman was a Greek, born in Syrian Phoenicia. She begged Jesus to drive the demon out of her daughter.27"First let the children eat all they want," he told her, "for it is not right to take the children's bread and toss it to their dogs."28"Yes, Lord," she replied, "but even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs."29Then he told her, "For such a reply, you may go; the demon has left your daughter."30She went home and found her child lying on the bed, and the demon gone.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter two powerful narratives that invite us to reflect on the nature of faith, persistence, and the consequences of our choices. The first reading from 1 Kings recounts the story of Solomon, who, despite his wisdom and the blessings he received from God, allowed his heart to be swayed by foreign influences and idolatry. This turning away from the Lord led to division and the eventual fracturing of his kingdom. The Gospel, on the other hand, presents us with a striking contrast: a Gentile woman, a Syrophoenician, who humbly and persistently seeks Jesus’ help for her daughter tormented by a demon. Her faith, despite initial hesitation from Jesus, ultimately prevails, and her daughter is healed.
The context of these readings is crucial. Solomon’s story occurs at the end of his life, when he has already achieved great success and prosperity. His downfall comes not from external enemies but from within, as he allows his heart to grow distant from God. This serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of complacency and the importance of remaining faithful even in times of abundance. In the Gospel, the Syrophoenician woman’s story highlights the universality of God’s mercy and the power of persistent prayer. She does not let cultural or religious barriers stand in her way, and her humility and trust in Jesus are rewarded.
These readings relate to each other in their emphasis on the importance of remaining faithful and open to God’s grace. Solomon’s failure to do so leads to division, while the Syrophoenician woman’s unwavering faith leads to healing and restoration. For us, these stories remind us to examine our own hearts and ensure that we are not allowing distractions or false idols to take precedence over our relationship with God. Like the Syrophoenician woman, we are called to approach God with humility and persistence, trusting in His mercy and love.
As we reflect on these readings, let us ask ourselves: What are the “foreign influences” in our own lives that might be pulling us away from God? How can we cultivate the kind of faith and persistence demonstrated by the Syrophoenician woman? May we learn from Solomon’s mistakes and strive to keep our hearts focused on the Lord, even in the face of challenges or temptations. And may we, like the woman, trust in God’s boundless love and mercy, knowing that He desires to bring healing and wholeness to our lives.