Daily Catholic Mass Readings for February 10, 2022
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
The readings today present us with two powerful narratives that invite us to reflect on the nature of faith, persistence, and the consequences of our choices. In the first reading, we see King Solomon, once a man of great wisdom and favor with God, now faltering because of his divided heart. Seduced by the idolatrous practices of his foreign wives, Solomon turns away from the Lord, despite the clear warnings and the covenant God had established with him. This story serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of compromise and the importance of remaining faithful to God’s commandments. Solomon’s downfall reminds us that even the greatest among us can fall if we allow our hearts to be swayed by worldly allurements.
In the Gospel, we encounter a very different kind of faith. A Syro-Phoenician woman, a Gentile and an outsider, approaches Jesus with bold persistence, pleading for the healing of her demon-possessed daughter. Despite Jesus’ initial hesitation and the cultural barriers that might have discouraged her, the woman’s faith and determination prevail. Her humble yet unyielding response, “Even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs,” moves Jesus to grant her request. This exchange highlights the universal reach of God’s mercy and the transformative power of faith. The woman’s persistence teaches us that even when we feel unworthy or marginalized, we should never lose hope in God’s providence.
These readings invite us to examine our own hearts and lives. Like Solomon, we are called to remain steadfast in our commitment to God, avoiding the idols of our own time—whether they be wealth, power, or fleeting desires. At the same time, the Syro-Phoenician woman’s example encourages us to approach God with humility and perseverance, trusting in His love and mercy even when the odds seem against us. Let us ask ourselves: Are there areas in our lives where we have compromised our faith? Are there times when we have given up too easily, failing to trust in God’s plan? May these readings inspire us to renew our commitment to the Lord and to pray with the kind of faith that moves mountains.