1st READING
No earthly construction can contain the majesty of God, let alone be worthy of Him. Churches, icons, statues, etc. are merely that — representations of our love and commitment to following Him as His disciple. They are useful for the proclamation of the Gospel and for growing in holiness through prayer and reflection. Nothing can substitute for the real thing, namely, knowing and loving God in a personal relationship with Him.
1 Kings 8:22-23, 27-30
22 Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord in the presence of the whole community of Israel, and stretching forth his hands toward heaven, 23 he said, “Lord, God of Israel, there is no God like you in heaven above or on earth below; you keep your covenant of mercy with your servants who are faithful to you with their whole heart. 27 “Can it indeed be that God dwells on earth? If the heavens and the highest heavens cannot contain you, how much less this temple which I have built! 28 Look kindly on the prayer and petition of your servant, O Lord, my God, and listen to the cry of supplication which I, your servant, utter before you this day. 29 May your eyes watch night and day over this temple, the place where you have decreed you shall be honored; may you heed the prayer which I, your servant, offer in this place. 30 Listen to the petitions of your servant and of your people Israel which they offer in this place. Listen from your heavenly dwelling and grant pardon.”
P S A L M
Psalm 84:3, 4, 5, 10, 11
R: How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord, mighty God!
2 [3] My soul yearns and pines for the courts of the Lord. My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God. (R) 3 [4] Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow a nest in which she puts her young — your altars, O Lord of hosts, my king and my God! (R) 4 [5] Blessed they who dwell in your house! continually they praise you. 9 [10] O God, behold our shield, and look upon the face of your anointed. (R) 10 [11] I had rather one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I had rather lie at the
threshold of the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked. (R)
GOSPEL
Rituals can help or hinder our relationship with God. They can be our friends, if they help us grow in our love for God and neighbor; or our enemies if they do not. Whatever the situation, rituals are not necessarily evil or bad; what matters is how we and others use, and at times abuse, them. Let us keep an open mind about the ways of the Church and not pass hasty judgment on practices we know little about. Let us remember that we are part of a big Church and there is room inside for many different expressions of faith.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
Incline my heart, O God, to your decrees; and favor me with your law.
Mark 7:1-13
1 When the Pharisees with some scribes who had come from Jerusalem gathered around Jesus, 2 they observed that some of his disciples ate their meals with unclean, that is, unwashed, hands. 3 (For the Pharisees and, in fact, all Jews, do not eat without carefully washing their hands, keeping the tradition of the elders. 4 And on coming from the marketplace they do not eat without purifying themselves. And there are many other things that they have traditionally observed, the purification of cups and jugs and kettles and beds.) 5 So the Pharisees and scribes questioned him, “Why do your disciples not follow the tradition of the elders but instead eat a meal with unclean hands?” 6 He responded, “Well did Isaiah prophesy about you hypocrites, as it is written: ‘This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me; 7 In vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines human precepts.” 8 You disregard God’s commandment but cling to human tradition.” 9 He went on to say, “How well you have set aside the commandment of God in order to uphold your tradition! 10 For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and ‘Whoever curses father or mother shall die.’ 11 Yet you say, ‘If someone says to father or mother, “Any support you might have had from me is qorban’” (meaning, dedicated to God), 12 you allow him to do nothing more for his father or mother. 13 You nullify the word of God in favor of your tradition that you have handed on. And you do many such things.”
think: Let us keep an open mind about the ways of the Church and not pass judgment on practices we know little about.
LIST
LIST T O D A Y ’ S BLESSING LIST
Thank You Lord for: ____________________________________
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God’s special verse/thought for me today________________
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READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Romans 9-12
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