1ST READING
I
remember one time in my life when I felt like the Queen of Sheba. A
speaker at a conference once mesmerized me with his wisdom and
compassion as he presented the subject of moral theology. I did not mind
having to sit on the floor to listen as there were no more chairs and
tables in the room. He spoke with a gentle authority borne of love and
experience. This is how I envision Solomon answering questions.
1 Kings 10:1-10
1 The queen of Sheba, having heard of Solomon’s fame, came to test him with subtle questions. 2 She
arrived in Jerusalem with a very numerous retinue, and with camels
bearing spices, a large amount of gold, and precious stones. She came to
Solomon and questioned him on every subject in which she was interested. 3 King Solomon explained everything she asked about, and there remained nothing hidden from him that
he could not explain to her. 4 When the queen of Sheba witnessed Solomon’s great wisdom, the palace he had built, 5 the
food at his table, the seating of his ministers, the attendance and
garb of his waiters, his banquet service, and the burnt offerings he
offered in the temple of the Lord, she was breathless. 6 “The report I heard in my country about your deeds and your wisdom is true,” she told the king. 7 “Though
I did not
believe the report until I came and saw with my own eyes, I have
discovered that they were not telling me the half. Your wisdom and
prosperity surpass the report I heard. 8 Blessed are your men, blessed these servants of yours, who stand before you always and listen to your wisdom. 9 Blessed
be the Lord, your God, whom it has pleased to place you on the throne
of Israel. In his enduring love for Israel, the Lord has made you king
to carry out judgment and justice.” 10 Then she gave
the
king one hundred and twenty gold talents, a very large quantity of
spices, and precious stones. Never again did anyone bring such an
abundance of spices as the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon.
P S A L M
Psalm 37:5-6, 30-31, 39-40
R: The mouth of the just murmurs wisdom.
5 Commit to the Lord your way; trust in him, and he will act. 6 He will make justice dawn for you like the light; bright as the noonday shall be your vindication. (R) 30 The mouth of the just man tells of wisdom and his tongue utters what is right. 31 The law of his God is in his heart, and his
steps do not falter. (R) 39 The salvation of the just is from the Lord; he is their refuge in time of distress. 40 And the Lord helps them and delivers them; he delivers them from the wicked and saves them, because they take refuge in him. (R)
GOSPEL
Jesus
affirms that we need to be responsible for our actions. It is
impossible to live as a community if people always excuse themselves
from responsibility and blame others for things that they very well know
are at least partially their own doing. A truly good person will always
own up responsibility for his actions — both good and bad. If bad, he
will do everything to set straight the problems he has caused.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
Your word, O Lord, is truth: consecrate us in the truth.
Mark 7:14-23
14 Jesus summoned the crowd again and said to them, “Hear me, all of you, and understand. 15 Nothing that enters one from outside can defile that person; but the things that come out from within are what defile.” 16 17 When he got home away from the crowd his disciples questioned him about the parable. 18 He said to them, “Are even you likewise without
understanding? Do you not realize that everything that goes into a person from outside cannot defile, 19 since it enters not the heart but the stomach and passes out into the latrine?” (Thus he declared all foods clean.) 20 “But what comes out of the man, that is what defiles him. 21 From within the man, from his heart, come evil thoughts, unchastity, theft, murder, 22 adultery, greed, malice, deceit,
licentiousness, envy, blasphemy, arrogance, folly. 23 All these evils come from within and they defile.”
LIST
think: A truly good person will always own up responsibility for his actions — both good and bad.
T O D A Y’S BLESSING LIST
Thank You Lord for: __________________
____________________________________
God’s special verse/thought for me today_
_____________________________________
READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR 2 Corinthians 1-4
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