Daily Catholic Mass Readings for February 7, 2024
First Reading: 1 Kings 10.1-10
1When the queen of Sheba heard about the fame of Solomon and his relation to the name of the LORD, she came to test him with hard questions.2Arriving at Jerusalem with a very great caravan-with camels carrying spices, large quantities of gold, and precious stones-she came to Solomon and talked with him about all that she had on her mind.3Solomon answered all her questions; nothing was too hard for the king to explain to her.4When the queen of Sheba saw all the wisdom of Solomon and the palace he had built,5the food on his table, the seating of his officials, the attending servants in their robes, his cupbearers, and the burnt offerings he made at the temple of the LORD, she was overwhelmed.6She said to the king, "The report I heard in my own country about your achievements and your wisdom is true.7But I did not believe these things until I came and saw with my own eyes. Indeed, not even half was told me; in wisdom and wealth you have far exceeded the report I heard.8How happy your men must be! How happy your officials, who continually stand before you and hear your wisdom!9Praise be to the LORD your God, who has delighted in you and placed you on the throne of Israel. Because of the LORD's eternal love for Israel, he has made you king, to maintain justice and righteousness."10And she gave the king 120 talents of gold, large quantities of spices, and precious stones. Never again were so many spices brought in as those the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon.
Psalm 37
1Do not fret because of evil men or be envious of those who do wrong;2for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away.3Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.4Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.5Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this:6He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.7Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.8Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret-it leads only to evil.9For evil men will be cut off, but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land.10A little while, and the wicked will be no more; though you look for them, they will not be found.11But the meek will inherit the land and enjoy great peace.12The wicked plot against the righteous and gnash their teeth at them;13but the Lord laughs at the wicked, for he knows their day is coming.14The wicked draw the sword and bend the bow to bring down the poor and needy, to slay those whose ways are upright.15But their swords will pierce their own hearts, and their bows will be broken.16Better the little that the righteous have than the wealth of many wicked;17for the power of the wicked will be broken, but the LORD upholds the righteous.18The days of the blameless are known to the LORD, and their inheritance will endure forever.19In times of disaster they will not wither; in days of famine they will enjoy plenty.20But the wicked will perish: The LORD's enemies will be like the beauty of the fields, they will vanish-vanish like smoke.21The wicked borrow and do not repay, but the righteous give generously;22those the LORD blesses will inherit the land, but those he curses will be cut off.23If the LORD delights in a man's way, he makes his steps firm;24though he stumble, he will not fall, for the LORD upholds him with his hand.25I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread.26They are always generous and lend freely; their children will be blessed.27Turn from evil and do good; then you will dwell in the land forever.28For the LORD loves the just and will not forsake his faithful ones. They will be protected forever, but the offspring of the wicked will be cut off;29the righteous will inherit the land and dwell in it forever.30The mouth of the righteous man utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks what is just.31The law of his God is in his heart; his feet do not slip.32The wicked lie in wait for the righteous, seeking their very lives;33but the LORD will not leave them in their power or let them be condemned when brought to trial.34Wait for the LORD and keep his way. He will exalt you to inherit the land; when the wicked are cut off, you will see it.35I have seen a wicked and ruthless man flourishing like a green tree in its native soil,36but he soon passed away and was no more; though I looked for him, he could not be found.37Consider the blameless, observe the upright; there is a future for the man of peace.38But all sinners will be destroyed; the future of the wicked will be cut off.39The salvation of the righteous comes from the LORD; he is their stronghold in time of trouble.40The LORD helps them and delivers them; he delivers them from the wicked and saves them, because they take refuge in him.
Gospel: Mark 7.14-23
14Again Jesus called the crowd to him and said, "Listen to me, everyone, and understand this.15Nothing outside a man can make him 'unclean' by going into him. Rather, it is what comes out of a man that makes him 'unclean.'"16Verse omitted from the New International Version17After he had left the crowd and entered the house, his disciples asked him about this parable.18"Are you so dull?" he asked. "Don't you see that nothing that enters a man from the outside can make him 'unclean'?19For it doesn't go into his heart but into his stomach, and then out of his body." (In saying this, Jesus declared all foods "clean.")20He went on: "What comes out of a man is what makes him 'unclean.'21For from within, out of men's hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery,22greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly.23All these evils come from inside and make a man 'unclean.'"
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.